Vicki L MorrisonMembers of the military, veterans, first responders and their accompanying families are welcome to enter all New Brunswick provincial parks free of charge. Personnel who will be granted complimentary admission include, but are not limited to, members and veterans of the Canadian Forces, members of the RCMP, regional and municipal police officers, Ambulance New Brunswick staff, and firefighters.
“We value the considerable contributions and sacrifices made every day by military personnel and our first responders, who are entrusted with the safety of our communities and who demonstrate great selflessness in accomplishing this goal,” said Brian Macdonald, legislative secretary to the premier, responsible for Military Affairs. “We rely on them, and we want to give back. We hope that they will take some time with their families to enjoy New Brunswick’s terrific provincial parks for free this summer and in future.”
The complimentary entrance includes the five provincially-operated parks which currently charge a vehicle entrance fee: Mactaquac Provincial Park, New River Beach Provincial Park, Murray Beach Provincial Park, Parlee Beach Provincial Park and Mount Carleton Provincial Park.
“Each provincial park is unique and beautiful, offering so many different attractions. From the gorgeous sands of Parlee Beach to adventure climbing at Mount Carleton there are so many things for military families to do,” explained Jane Mathews-Clark, Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture New Brunswick.
Canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding and a variety of other family recreation activities take place in the parks.
“Each park offers a totally different experience. For example Mactaquac is open year round. It’s great for families. They can picnic and relax, or try Tree-Go, a privately run business that operates out of the park. They offer zip-lining, and climbing adventures for all ages.”
New Brunswick has modernized accessibility to parks as well.
“One of the best services we offer is an on-line reservation system. If a military family is posted across country and they are camping their way through our province they can reserve their sites very easily with NB Parks. Online you can actually see the exact site you are going to be camping in so you can pick a spot that interests you, close to washrooms, or a picnic shelter, or even close to the beach. Keep in mind only park admission is free, not other activities or services like skiing or camping,” says Mathews-Clark. Reconnecting with nature is what the parks are all about.
“We encourage families from out of province to come and visit us for the first time and of course we love to see New Brunswickers come back and visit us again and again.”
Please visit: http://www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca
