A major budget increase in 1952-53 saw the hiring of the first full-time parks staff.

Also in 1950 the Parks Branch began to establish provincial historic sites.

[1] In addition to new provincial parks proper, other park-like areas were established by other government departments: the Department of Highways and Transport had network of roadside campgrounds for the new wave of automotive tourists and the Alberta Forest Service had a network of recreation areas in forested regions to divert backcountry camping into fewer site, so they could be well monitored and regulated, and environmental impacts localized to just a few places.

After the late 1950s the focus of Alberta's parks policy began to shift from recreation to wilderness preservation.

[1] In addition the Environment Department began creating campground and picnic areas on lakes and reservoirs to limit erosion and other environmental impacts of recreation.