Federal and Provincial Parks tend to only be "open" from roughly mid May to mid October. So for seven months of the year, the gates are closed. The washrooms are locked. Canada is a four season country and is an amazing place to get out and explore in all of them and see and experience the changes and differing landscapes.

These are public lands for public use and should be open and encouraged to be used year round. The hardcore outdoor people are going to go out regardless. Encouraging others has to start with ease of access. Gated public parks result in longer walks, often down long driveways or roadways for KMs, unplowed when there's snow, and this is discouraging when it's admittedly colder and less daylight. It also results in congested parking around these gates/entrances spilling onto roads which can be especially dangerous in pour weather or with snow build up. Closed facilities also result in discouraging visitors among other things.

Being outdoors is great for everyone's physical and mental well being, limiting access during shortened daylight hours makes absolutely no sense. How many small rural communities have great parks located in them? These communities also have small often independent businesses that benefit from visitors or even locals just getting out.

Its time to #openthegates . Parks should be year round destinations.