BC Parks is inviting British Columbians to participate in the redesign of its website.
A new test site is live and provides a glimpse into the design work and improvements being made, according to a media release from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.
A key feature of the new site will be an improved reservation system with new features, including:
-more flexible search options to find and book a campsite;
-maps, calendars and lists of available sites for quicker navigation;
-saved booking preferences and locations within customer accounts; and
-as many as five large photos per campsite.
The new reservation service will open on March 21.
“More people every year are getting out and connecting with nature and green space in our beautiful BC Parks. It’s key to our health and well-being,” said George Heyman, minister of environment and climate change strategy. “We’ve engaged with people over the past two years and we’ve heard the call for improvements to the reservation service and the need to build a more reliable, easy-to-use service system.”
New content and features will be added to the site during the coming months. People can also sign up to join future focus groups to help inform the future of all BC Parks digital products and services.
Feedback can be shared through the new test site at beta.bcparks.ca.
BC Parks has more than 10,000 reservable day-use and overnight sites available. They range from day-use passes, parking permits and campsites, to backcountry permits, a world-class canoe circuit, picnic shelters, backcountry cabins and a yurt.
Demand for reservations have grown more than 200 per cent in the past decade, according to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy.
People can book a campsite at most campgrounds two months ahead of their desired arrival date. Reservations for group campsites open March 24 for the rest of the year and reservations for the popular Bowron Lake Canoe Circuit will open in early April, with availability between May and September. The Berg Lake Trail does not have an anticipated opening date due to damage caused by severe flooding in the summer.
