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. 1 2 3 "Law on municipal powers" (in French). pp. 112–121.
  3. 1 2 ."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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