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Trails, Tourism, Recreation, & Parks Services

At McElhanney, we strongly believe life is better outside. Our dedicated staff experts are passionate about helping our public and private sector clients create and maintain exceptional trails, tourism, recreation, and parks services.

With industry-leading policy development, planning, and design services, we partner with our clients and their stakeholders to create places where remarkable experiences happen and lifelong memories are made.

Click the tiles below to explore our trails, tourism, recreation, and parks services, and to see examples of our past work.

High Rockies Trail, Canmore, designed by McElhanney
High Rockies Trail, Alberta. Designed by McElhanney.

Trails

Our trails experts are an eclectic group of experienced and passionate trail users that have planned some of Western Canada’s most epic trail adventures. Whether it be mountain biking, hiking, motorized trails through remote backcountry, or paved pathways for walking or cycling through urban areas, we do them all.

  • Trails policy, master, and management planning
  • Trail inventory and condition assessment
  • Trail schematic, concept, and detailed design
  • Technical trail feature and infrastructure design
  • Trail layout and pin-flagging
  • Signage, wayfinding, and visitor monitoring
  • Public and community engagement
  • Construction and contract administration
Skyride Surf Adventure at Grouse Mountain, Vancouver. McElhanney designed the space that allows people to ride the cable car on the top deck.

Tourism

The tourism industry is fiercely competitive. Successful destinations capitalize on their unique advantages and deliver exceptional experiences. From ski lift engineering to strategic tourism planning studies, our interdisciplinary tourism services team and our network of partners are equipped and ready to help your destination realize its tourism potential.

  • Tourism policy
  • Tourism resource inventory
  • Destination development and management planning
  • Resort master planning
  • Visitor infrastructure design
  • Public and community engagement
  • Construction and contract administration

Photo courtesy of Grouse Mountain

Niagara Falls Zipline Project
MistRider Zipline at Niagara Falls. McElhanney worked with WildPlay to confirm the zip lines alignment, performed line calculations for the cable systems, and we coordinated permit approvals.

Recreation

Like you, we are passionate about enhancing lives and strengthening communities. Our team is made up of recognized leaders in the recreation field and has decades of recreation planning experience. From community facilities to heart-stopping ziplines to trail development: we can help your community realize the myriad benefits recreation can offer.

  • Recreation policy development
  • Recreation master and management planning
  • Facility feasibility assessment
  • Recreation asset inventory
  • Outdoor and action sport facility design
  • Recreation facility contract administration
  • Public and community engagement
Anniversary Park in Chestermere, Alberta. McElhanney completed conceptual design, preliminary detailed design, and contract administration.

Parks

Parks enhance our quality of life and help protect our environment. We work extensively throughout some of Canada’s most treasured parks, including facilities in the UNESCO-protected Rockies, to community playgrounds and tantalizing campgrounds. Our parks experts are ready to help you create compelling park spaces.

  • Parks policy & parks open space master planning
  • Park management planning
  • Park inventorying & asset condition assessment
  • Park schematic, concept & detailed design
  • Campground & day-use area design
  • Outdoor and action sports facility design
  • Outdoor play space design
  • Wayfinding, signage, visitor monitoring & research
  • Public and community engagement
  • Construction and contract administration

To learn more, contact a branch near you.