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
editIn 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]
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The MRC which has designated a territory as being a regional park may, within its limits, regulate:
- the administration and operation of the park
- protection and nature conservation;
- the security of users;
- the use or the parking of vehicles;
- the possession and care of domestic animals;
- the display;
- the operation of shops;
- the exercise of recreational activities;
- any use of a public road not governed by the Highway Safety Code.[2]
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
editThe 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
editOnly 17 parks are registered in a land use planning and development plan and recognized by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs:
Montréal
edit
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
edit- Beauharnois-Salaberry Regional Park (Beauharnois-Salaberry, Montérégie)
- Des Grèves Regional Park (Marguerite-D'Youville)
North
edit- Boréal (Manicouagan, Côte-Nord)
- Cap Jaseux Aventures (Le Fjord-du-Saguenay, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean)
- Obalski Regional Park (Chibougamau, Nord-du-Québec)
North-East
edit- Seigneurie-du-lac-Matapédia Regional Park (La Matapédia, Bas-Saint-Laurent)
- Canyon Portes de l'Enfer (TERFA) (Rimouski-Neigette, Bas-Saint-Laurent)
- Mont-Saint-Joseph Regional Park (Avignon, Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine)
- Gros Cap Park (Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine)
East
edit- Parc de la Gorge (Coaticook)
- Grandes-Coulées Regional Park (L'Érable, Centre-du-Québec)
- Rivière-Gentilly Regional Park (Bécancour, Centre-du-Québec)
- Parc régional du Marécage-des-Scots (Le Haut-Saint-François)
- Parc régional du Mont-Ham (Les Sources, Centre-du-Québec)
Quebec Region
edit- Parc régional du Massif-du-Sud (Bellechasse, Les Etchemins)
- Vallée Bras-du-Nord (Portneuf)
- Parc naturel régional de Portneuf (Portneuf)
- Sainte-Anne, Canyon (La Côte-de-Beaupré, Capitale-Nationale)
- Sainte-Foy, Base de Plein Air (Quebec, Capitale-Nationale)
- Parc régional des Appalaches (Montmagny, Chaudière-Appalaches)
Central
edit- Centre de la côte Boisée-Groupe Plein Air Terrebonne (Les Moulins, Lanaudière)
- Parc régional de la Chute-à-Bull (Matawinie)
- Lac Taureau (Matawinie)
- Ouareau Forest Regional Park (Matawinie)
- Sept-Chutes (Matawinie, Lanaudière)
- Parc de la Rivière-Batiscan (Les Chenaux, Mauricie)
- Parc de Trois-Sœurs (La Tuque, Mauricie)
Laurentides
edit- Rivière-des-Mille-Îles (Thérèse-De Blainville, Laurentides; and Laval)
- Bois de Belle-Rivière; et P'tit Train du Nord (Laurentides)
- Rivière-du-Nord (La Rivière-du-Nord)
- Réservoir Kiamika; Montagne-du-Diable; et Poisson-Blanc (Antoine-Labelle)
- Parc d'Escalage et de Randonnée de la Montagne d'Argent; et Val-David - Val-Morin (Les Laurentides)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Gouvernement du Québec, Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Habitation - Parcs régionaux
- ^ a b c "Law on municipal powers" (in French). pp. 112–121.
- ^ a b ."Regional parks - Intervention tools - Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing". www.mamh.gouv.qc.ca. Retrieved 2019-10-09.
- ^ Marie-Ève Morasse (2017-03-06). "Regional parks: united in their differences". La Presse (in French). Retrieved 2019-10-09.
- ^ Marie Tison (2019-01-02). "Regional parks: it's not just SEPAQ". La Presse (in French). Retrieved 2019-10-09.
- ^ "Law on the Urban Community of Quebec" (in French). 1969. p. C-37.2. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
- ^ Denis Masse (19 April 1979). "The CUM will take charge of regional parks". La Presse (in French). pp. A11.
- ^ 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
- ^ Pierre Roberge (July 20, 1979). "$ 10 million at the CUM - Space planning green". Le Nouvelliste (in French). p. 1.
- ^ 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.