163 lines
5.2 KiB
Markdown
163 lines
5.2 KiB
Markdown
# Free Recreation: Because Fun Shouldn't Be Paywalled
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!!! quote "Alberta Freedom Philosophy"
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"Nothing says freedom like paying $200 to walk in your own mountains."
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[Call Andrew Boitchenko, Minister of Tourism and Sport](tel:7804273070){ .md-button }
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[Email Minister of Tourism and Sport](https://influence.freealberta.org/campaign/recreation-tourism){ .md-button }
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[Call Todd Loewen, Minister of Forestry and Parks](tel:7806447353){ .md-button }
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[Email Minister of Forestry and Parks](https://influence.freealberta.org/campaign/recreation-parks){ .md-button }
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## The Current Situation
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In a province blessed with:
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- The Rocky Mountains
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- Countless lakes and rivers
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- Beautiful provincial parks
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- World-class facilities
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We've somehow managed to:
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- Charge entry fees for nature
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- Privatize recreation centers
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- Make sports unaffordable
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- Turn parks into profit centers
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## Why Recreation Should Be Free
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!!! info "Because..."
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- Nature belongs to everyone
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- Physical health shouldn't be a luxury
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- Community spaces build community
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- Kids need places to play
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- Mental health matters
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## What Free Recreation Looks Like
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### Parks and Natural Areas
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- Free park entry (radical concept, we know)
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- No camping fees
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- Maintained trails
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- Public facilities
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- Accessible wilderness areas
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### Community Spaces
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- Free recreation centers
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- Public pools
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- Sports facilities
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- Community gardens
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- Youth centers
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- Senior activity spaces
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### Sports and Activities
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- Free equipment libraries
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- Community leagues
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- Public skating rinks
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- Basketball courts
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- Skateparks
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- Climbing walls
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## The "But Who Will Pay For It?!" Section
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!!! tip "Oh, I Don't Know..."
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- The same budget that funds corporate tax breaks
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- Tourism revenue (people still spend money when things are free)
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- That Heritage Fund we keep talking about
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- Properly managed resource revenues
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- Progressive taxation (gasp!)
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## How We Get There
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1. Stop privatizing public spaces
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2. Invest in community infrastructure
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3. Create equipment lending libraries
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4. Support community programs
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5. Make accessibility the priority
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!!! warning "But What About Maintenance?"
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Funny how we never ask this about hockey arenas that get millions in public funding...
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## The Real Benefits of Free Recreation
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- Healthier communities
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- Lower healthcare costs
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- Stronger social bonds
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- Better mental health
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- Happier citizens
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- More active kids
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## What We're Missing
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- Universal access to nature
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- Community connection
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- Physical wellness
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- Mental health benefits
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- Family activities that don't break the bank
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## Deep Dive Resources
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[Public Health](../freeneeds/healthcare.md){.md-button}
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[Community Building](../freeto/create.md){.md-button}
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## Success Stories
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!!! example "Look What Works"
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- Public libraries (still free, still awesome)
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- Community leagues (when properly funded)
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- Neighborhood parks (where they exist)
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- Public beaches (where not privatized)
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## The Bottom Line
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If we can afford to build million-dollar hockey arenas for billionaire team owners, we can afford to make recreation free for everyone.
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!!! success "Remember"
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A society that plays together, stays together. Unless they're priced out of playing, then they just watch Netflix alone.
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---
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## Sources & Evidence
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### Parks Funding & Fees
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- Alberta Parks has faced budget cuts in recent years
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- Day use fees and camping fees have increased
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- Some parks were proposed for closure or transfer to private operators
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- Kananaskis Conservation Pass ($90/year or $15/day) introduced in 2021
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- Source: [Alberta Parks](https://www.albertaparks.ca/)
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- Source: [CPAWS - Parks Funding Research](https://cpaws-southernalberta.org/)
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### Recreation Access Barriers
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- Municipal recreation facility fees have increased
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- Low-income families face barriers to organized sports participation
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- Rural communities have fewer recreation options
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- Youth sport costs continue to rise (equipment, fees, travel)
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- Source: [ParticipACTION Report Card](https://www.participaction.com/)
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### Health Benefits of Recreation
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- Physical inactivity costs the Canadian healthcare system billions annually
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- Access to green spaces is associated with better mental health outcomes
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- Children who participate in sports have better educational outcomes
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- Source: [Canadian Institute for Health Information](https://www.cihi.ca/)
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- Source: [Public Health Agency of Canada](https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health.html)
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### Fee Assistance Programs
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- Calgary's Fair Entry program provides subsidized recreation access
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- Edmonton's Leisure Access Program serves low-income residents
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- Many Albertans are unaware these programs exist
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- Programs are often underfunded relative to demand
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- Source: [City of Calgary Fair Entry](https://www.calgary.ca/fairentry)
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- Source: [City of Edmonton Leisure Access](https://www.edmonton.ca/programs_services/leisure-access-program)
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### Private vs Public Recreation
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- Publicly funded arenas often prioritize professional and high-level sports
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- Community leagues face funding challenges
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- Private recreation facilities are unaffordable for many families
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- Source: [Recreation and Parks Association](https://www.arpaonline.ca/)
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