2026 Parks Forum

The following online survey will act as the tool for submission of presentations to the Advisory Committee for the 2026 Parks Forum. This survey is saveable (look for the button on the top of the page) and a link will be emailed to you so you can pick up where you left off.

Alberta Parks Forum Overview

The Parks Forum series was inspired by the incredible diversity of Alberta’s parks, landscapes and open spaces, and is hosted by the Alberta Parks and Recreation Association (ARPA). Since 2005 ARPA has hosted the Parks Forum to provide an opportunity for collaboration across the diverse parks sector. Participants come from a broad background and cross-section of the parks sector from Alberta’s parks and protected area land managers, key partners, educators, and students. Beyond Alberta, national and international park organizations and stakeholders attend and contribute leading trends of the parks sector. The 2026 Parks Forum will include opportunities for park professionals and researchers to connect, learn, and develop their skills through keynote speakers, concurrent sessions, and networking opportunities.

The 2026 Parks forum will take place March 18 - 20 in Edmonton, Alberta.

2026 Parks Forum Objectives

The primary objectives of the Parks Forum include:

To provide educational and development opportunities that include the exchange of views, sharing of experiences and learning of new and unique approaches to planning and managing parks and open spaces;
To develop ideas, concepts and proposals for realistic interaction and collaboration on issues and initiatives of common interest and concern; and,
To explore the connections, benefits and roles that parks provide in today’s ever-changing society.

These important objectives will be achieved at the 2026 Parks Forum through a program that will appeal to a broad range of interests, and engage a variety of learning styles. The program consists of keynote speakers, inter-active workshops, concurrent sessions, panel discussions, plenary sessions, student integration, trade show and opportunities for informal social interaction.

Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA) is a provincial charitable not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting the benefits of recreation and parks and their positive effects on the quality of life of Albertans. ARPA has successfully facilitated ten previous Parks Forums, demonstrating their proactive leadership in the field of parks and outdoor recreation.

Parks Forum 2026 Theme

The theme for the 2026 Parks Forum is, Urban Connections: Parks in a Changing World.

As the urban landscape rapidly evolves, experiences climate uncertainty, undergoes shifting social dynamics, go through changing technology, park spaces continue to provide a vital connection linking people to nature, communities to culture, and cities to resilience. Urban Connections: Parks in a Changing World will explore the role parks have in shaping accessible, sustainable, and adaptive urban environments. Topics may include, but not limited to:

Inclusivity/Accessibility
The role of citizen science/social science in parks planning.
Urban Wildlife (Urban wildlife strategies, managing “problem” wildlife)
Parkland Stewardship
Equity
Technology in Parks (ex. Crowdsourcing)
Tree Health (ex. Dutch Elm)
Education in Parks
Reconciliation (ex. Traditional knowledge in land management, Culturally important plants in landscapes, Ground Blessings, etc.)
Public Art in Parks
Partnerships in Parks
Park Planning (ex. Amenity development, land pressures)
Park Design (ex. Four season design)
Micromobility on trails (ex. Electric bikes and scooters)

We invite all those who can speak to the topics listed above, to submit an abstract by November 16, at 4:00 pm Mountain Standard Time (MST).