Parks Canada has closed several locations across the province after Nova Scotia introduced a ban on travelling into forests or wooded areas on Tuesday.
The government created the rules to try and avoid a wildfire amid incredibly dry conditions.
Parks Canada’s closures include all Kejimkujik National Park trails, as well as backcountry camping and the trails at the Seaside location.
The York Redoubt, Fort McNab and Melanson settlement historical sites are also closed.
Several municipal trails are also closed in the Region of Queens Municipality, according to a news release, including:
- Pine Grove Park, including Anniversary Trail which connects Pine Grove
Park to the Trestle Trail - Trestle Trail, including the extension that begins at White Point Road and
George Street and continues running parallel to George Street to connect
to the Trestle Trail, ending on Bristol Avenue - Meadow Pond Trail
- Queens Place Trail
The Path Lake Park and Scout Camp Park are entirely wooded parks, so they are totally closed.
Non-wooded parks, like Tupper Park, Centennial Park, Privateer Park, Port Medway Lighthouse Park, sports fields, and playgrounds are still open.
Some municipal parks, like Beach Meadows Municipal Park, have closed their wooded areas, but the beach is still open.
In Halifax, any parks that are entirely wooded areas will be fully closed. But if a park has a recreation area, like greenspaces, playgrounds, sports fields and ball diamonds, you will still be able to access those areas but not the woods.
In Cape Breton and Canso, major trails are also closed, including:
- all trails in Cape Breton Highlands National Park
- all trails at Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site
- Grassy Island, including boat service to and from the island
- all forested areas, barrens, and backcountry
- Designated backcountry camping at Fishing Cove
- undesignated backcountry camping
Here’s what is still open on the island:
- front country camping at Cape Breton Highlands National Park
- reconstructed townsite at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site
- overnight accommodations and camping at Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site
- beaches
- day use areas
- The Cabot Trail
In Yarmouth, the Tkipok and Forchu river trails are closed, according to Yarmouth Recreation.
Some rules unclear
There was some confusion on Tuesday when the province announced the new rules.
Shakespeare By The Sea, a group that performs plays at the Cambridge Battery in Point Pleasant Park, canceled their show of “As You Like It” on Tuesday.
“We are currently seeking clarification regarding the ban on activities in NS forests and are cancelling tonight’s show out of an abundance of caution,” read a post.
Anyone who goes into a wooded area during the ban will face a $25,000 fine. The restrictions are in effect until Oct. 15, or until the province lifts the restrictions.
