In November 2006, Rock Lake Provincial Recreation Area was expanded and re-designated as Rock Lake Provincial Park, within the surrounding Rock Lake - Solomon Creek Wildland Park. The creation and expansion of the provincial park was intended to improve public safety in recreation areas by eliminating the use of firearms in and around campgrounds, lodges, trapper's cabins, roads, and trails.

In response to public feedback expressing concerns about the Rock Lake Provincial Park boundary, open houses were held in Hinton and in Edmonton in April 2008. Feedback forms were distributed at the open houses and the forms were made available on the Rock Lake Provincial Park website. Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation staff also consulted with Aboriginal communities that were potentially affected by the Rock Lake Provincial Park boundary change.

In February 2009, in response to feedback from the general public, stakeholders and Aboriginal groups, Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation recommended a change to the Rock Lake Provincial Park boundary that would return 1552 hectares of the provincial park to wildland park status.

Between February 6 and April 9, 2009, the recommended boundary was made available on the www.albertaparks.ca website for public comment. Thank you to everyone who provided input.

The majority of responses supported the proposed boundary amendments. Please download a summary of What We Heard.

Based on public feedback, Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation has changed the boundaries for Rock Lake Provincial Park and Rock Lake - Solomon Creek Wildland Park through Orders in Council to:

• Return 1552 hectares of the northeast block of the provincial park to its former wildland park designation where hunting will be re-established;
• Retain provincial park designation in a 400-metre buffer north of the access road, and in the west and south portions of the provincial park;
• The modification results in a 50% reduction in the size of the provincial park, but no net loss in area to Alberta's park system.

The proposal to retain the 400-metre buffer north of the access road and as well as the remaining west and southern portions as provincial park is recommended for the following reasons:

• To ensure public safety by restricting hunting along roadways, lodges, trapper's cabins and near campgrounds. 
• To provide a potential land base for future developments in the provincial park to meet growing recreational demands for staging areas and campgrounds. Public consultation would take place on any proposed future developments.

Further information:

• Rock Lake Provincial Park Boundary Consultation - What We Heard
• New maps of Rock Lake Provincial Park and Rock Lake - Solomon Creek Wildland Park
• Approved Orders-in-Council for Rock Lake PP and Rock Lake - Solomon Creek Wildland Park