Regional park (Quebec)

A regional park, in Québec, is an area designated by a regional county municipality (MRC), or equivalent territory, for the dual purposes of recreation and promoting of nature conservation.[1]

While National Parks of Quebec is solely dedicated to the conservation and stewardship of the natural environment, the Regional Parks organisation—despite sharing a potentially ‘earth-friendly’ perspective—allows more for recreational hobbies, sporting and leisurely activities, as well as some commercial property-leasing management and resource development.

Features

In order to establish a regional park, a MRC must adopt a by-law which determines the base of the park. The by-law has no effect on private property, as long as the municipality does not own it. However, the regulation gives them the power to enter-into an agreement with the holder of a property right within the limits of the established park, and to establish a right of preemption, or even a right of supervision over the improvements that an owner brings to his buildings.[2][3]

Compared to the designation of a national park of Quebec, the umbrella of ‘regional’ parks allows the practice of extensive recreational activities.

The MRC which has designated a territory as being a regional park may, within its limits, regulate:

The MRC may operate the commercial, recreational and lodging activities itself within the park boundaries or entrust them to a third party.[2][3]

Designation

The legislative framework governing the parks does not provide for a controlled designation. The law provides for a MRC procedure to create a park, but does not govern the use of the designation “regional park”; it is neither compulsory nor regulated.[4] Thus, the Association of regional parks of Quebec claims between 150 and 175 regional parks, while the Ministry of Municipal Affairs recognizes the existence of 17 of these territories.[5]

List of regional parks

Only 17 parks are registered in a land use planning and development plan and recognized by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs:

Montréal
Autumn scene at L'Île-de-la-Visitation Nature Park.

Jurisdiction over intermunicipal parks is vested in the Montreal Urban Community (CUM) since its creation in 1969.[6]

In addition, the CUM declared its exclusive jurisdiction over regional parks on its territory as of 1979.[7][8] The same year, the metropolitan organization began acquiring green spaces: the Cap Saint-Jacques, the Bois de Liesse and de Saraguay, the Île de la Visitation, and the Pointe aux Trembles.[9] L'Île-de-la-Visitation Nature Park is the first regional park of the CUM to be developed.[10]

Montérégie

North

North-East

East

Quebec Region

Central

Laurentides

See also

References
  1. Gouvernement du Québec, Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation - Parcs régionaux
  2. "Law on municipal powers" (in French). pp. 112–121.
  3. ."Regional parks - Intervention tools - Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing". www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca. Retrieved 2019-10-09.
  4. Marie-Ève Morasse (2017-03-06). "Regional parks: united in their differences". La Presse (in French). Retrieved 2019-10-09.
  5. Marie Tison (2019-01-02). "Regional parks: it's not just SEPAQ". La Presse (in French). Retrieved 2019-10-09.
  6. "Law on the Urban Community of Quebec" (in French). 1969. p. C-37.2. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  7. Denis Masse (19 April 1979). "The CUM will take charge of regional parks". La Presse (in French). pp. A11.
  8. Guy Tardif (September 15, 1979). Gazette officielle du Québec (in French). Quebec: Éditeur officiel du Québec. p. 8457. Notice concerning ministries - Ministry of Municipal Affairs
  9. Pierre Roberge (July 20, 1979). "$ 10 million at the CUM - Space planning green". Le Nouvelliste (in French). p. 1.
  10. Alain Duhamel (January 14, 1981). "The CUM will hold hearings on the development of the Parc de la Visitation". Le Devoir (in French). p. 3.

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