Functional responsibility:
The Department of Recreation and Parks was responsible for planning, development, and operation of the provincial parks system, including all parks, natural areas, and wilderness areas; planning and administration of provincial sport and recreation development programs; and providing support and consultative services to municipalities to aid development of recreation facilities and programs at the municipal level.

Between 1975 and 1979, the department was also responsible for managing the fish and wildlife resources of the province. In 1979, responsibility for fish and wildlife management programs was transferred to the Associate Minister of Public Lands and Wildlife.

The minister was responsible for administration of the following Acts:

Alberta Games Council Act
Alberta Sport Council Act
Alberta Youth Foundation Act
Department of Recreation and Parks Act
Department of Recreation, Parks, and Wildlife Act
Fish Marketing Act (1975–1979)
Provincial Parks Act
Recreation Development Act
Recreation, Parks, and Wildlife Foundation Act
Wilderness Areas Act
Wilderness Areas, Ecological Reserves and Natural Areas Act
Wildlife Act (1975–1979)

Predecessor and successor bodies:
The predecessors to the department were the Department of Culture, Youth, and Recreation (sport and recreation programs) and the Department of Lands and Forests (provincial parks and fish and wildlife management).

Administrative relationships:
The Department of Recreation and Parks reported to the Legislative Assembly through the Minister of Recreation, Parks, and Wildlife (1975–1979) and the Minister of Recreation and Parks (1979–1992). Two semi-independent agencies, the Alberta Games Council (renamed the Alberta Sport Council in 1984) and the Recreation, Parks, and Wildlife Foundation, reported to the minister.

Administrative structure:
Between 1975 and 1979, the department was made up of an Administration Division, the Recreation Development Division inherited from the Department of Culture, Youth, and Recreation, and the divisions of Parks and Fish and Wildlife from the Department of Lands and Forests. In 1979, the Fish and Wildlife Division was transferred to the Associate Minister of Public Lands and Wildlife.

In 1982, the department went through the first of a number of reorganizations. The Parks Division was split into two, creating the Design and Implementation Division (responsible for planning, designing, and creating outdoor recreation facilities on Crown land) and the Operations and Maintenance Division (responsible for maintenance and operation of facilities on Crown land). Also in 1982, the Planning Secretariat was created, amalgamating all planning functions of the department in one office.

In January 1983, the Olympic Secretariat was created. The Olympic Secretariat reported to the Deputy Minister of Recreation and Parks and was responsible for coordinating the provincial government’s involvement in hosting the XV Olympic Winter Games in Calgary.

In 1984, administration of the Kananaskis Country recreation area was placed under a managing director, who reported to the Minister of Recreation and Parks. Administration of the region had previously been the responsibility of the Operations and Maintenance Division. The Kananaskis Country had a self-contained administration separate from other parks and recreation programs. Programs were delivered by its own Recreation Programs, Construction and Maintenance, Planning and Design, Communications and Public Affairs, and Finance and Administration Branches.

In 1987, Design and Implementation and Operations and Maintenance of the Parks Division were merged to form the Provincial Parks Service. In 1990, the Parks Service was decentralized to the regional level, eliminating all nonregional branches except for the Administration and Technical Support Branches. Regional offices assumed responsibility for park planning, disposition management, and capital development.

Names of the corporate bodies:
Department of Recreation, Parks, and Wildlife 1975–1979
Department of Recreation and Parks 1979–1992

Names of chief officers:
Minister of Recreation, Parks, and Wildlife
James Allen Adair 1975–1979

Ministers of Recreation and Parks
Peter Trynchy 1979–1986
Norman Alan Weiss 1986–1989
Stephen C. West 1989–1992

• Creation and administration of programs to support development of school, municipal, regional and provincial recreation programs and facilities
• Operation of the Recreation Leadership School (Blue Lake)
• Creation and administration of provincial sport development programs
• Oversight of and support for the Alberta Summer and Winter Games
• Design, development and oversight of the provincial park system, including the Kananaskis Country recreation area
• Creation and administration of programs providing support for municipal park development
• Administration of youth development programs
• Administration of fish and wildlife management programs

The fonds includes correspondence, a variety of types of case files, minutes and agendas of a variety of branch and departmental committees, contracts, reports and statistics, financial records, news releases, promotional materials, photographs, negatives, maps and plans, transparencies, audio recordings, photo albums, and posters.