Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Monday, January 28, 2008

FORT SMITH - Wood Buffalo National Park wants to know what people think.

Beginning in mid-January, the park mailed a short survey to every household in Fort Smith, Hay River and Fort Resolution, along with the Alberta communities of Fort Fitzgerald, Garden River and Fort Chipewyan.

"We're asking them to tell us what they think of the existing services in the park and to give us some ideas of what they'd like to see us do differently," said Mike Keizer, the park's communications, visitor services and heritage presentation manager.

The questions generally cover the areas of heritage presentation and visitor services.

Specifically, the survey asks for people's opinions on such things as hiking trails, campgrounds, picnic areas, roads, outhouses, visitor information centres, brochures, staff-led activities, interpretive signs, drinking water, and more.

The park is asking people to have the questionnaires returned by Feb. 20.

Keizer said the findings of the survey will be released to the communities by mid-summer.

"I've committed to giving the good and the bad news," he said, adding there may be some critical assessments of the park.

Keizer said the feedback will give the park some direction for future developments.

However, he said "Some things may be doable, but some things, for whatever reason, may not be doable."

The findings will help with setting the park's budget and in seeking funding for various projects.

Keizer said there is no record of the park ever having undertaken a survey of this scale before.

Copying and mailing will cost the park about $3,000, including paid return postage.

As of the middle of last week, 10 completed surveys had already been returned to the park from Fort Smith residents.