Dear editor,
While I agree with the nature and premise, the context was unfortunately misrepresented and as such has painted Parks Canada and the Jasper Park Cycling Association (JPCA) in a bad light and has strained a relationship that both parties have worked hard to nurture since the JPCA鈥檚 inception in 2012.
When the Three Valley Confluence Plan was implemented a number of unsanctioned trails were incorporated into the JNP trail network, creating a three tiered trail system within Jasper; illegal, wildland, and official numbered trails.聽How to manage this trail network has been an ongoing evolution that has been discussed amongst the JPCA, the Jasper Trail Alliance (JTA), and undoubtedly within Parks Canada.聽 In the spring of 2013 the JPCA was asked to not print maps of the wildland trails, as this was one of the original stipulations for the creation of the wildland network.
At a meeting in the spring of 2016 the JPCA presented the idea of posting the JNP trail network digitally using the Trailforks app in order to enhance visitor experience.聽 Many popular cycling routes include portions of multiple numbered and named trails and can be confusing to follow. This app would allow the JPCA to upload quality route recommendations to simplify navigation for visitors using a mobile platform.
Parks Canada was quite receptive to the idea and it fit with their stated goal of incorporating more marked loops (which they have). They were also looking to incorporate the wildland trails into the official network as they found the current situation was creating too much confusion and was difficult to manage, a position the JPCA agreed with. It was decided in good faith that the JPCA would not post the wildland trails until a decision was made as to the direction Parks Canada wished to take regarding mapping the wildland trails, thereby upholding the previous agreement from 2013.聽 With the end goal of having a better trail system for all, it was deemed that a small delay was reasonable.
Through the summer of 2016 a board member of the JPCA updated Trailforks for Jasper National Park.聽This involved collecting and adding much of the Jasper trail network data as well as removing maps of illegal trails, and temporarily hiding the wildland trail network. 聽Late this summer, Parks Canada management contacted the JPCA and advised that they felt that Trailforks was an acceptable way to disseminate wildland trail information. The JPCA continues to curate Trailforks data by updating trail data (i.e. closure notices), and blocking the addition of unsanctioned trails to the maps.
I hope this provides some useful background information and clarifies that Parks Canada at no point demanded that the JPCA remove trails posted on Trailforks.
In addition, the notion that the JPCA pandered to the whims of Parks Canada in order to gain approval for the rezoning of the Bike Park land is also one imaginary dot too far. 聽Yes, the JPCA is an association of volunteers with limited resources.聽Through our mission statement we are trying to affect positive change for our membership in an arena controlled by the might and infinite resources of a major public service, which is quite the task at times.聽What was insinuated in the editorial is simply untrue. The approval for the release of land for the bike park was a two-step process involving the Municipality of Jasper and PDAC, which are both independent of Parks Canada.聽 The 51暗网 was present at both of the meetings regarding these approvals and as such should have a clear understanding of this process.
Matt Staneland
Chair JPCA
