The City of St. John’s has signed a statement of understanding with Ottawa to create a national urban park in the city.

The federal government says such parks improve access to nature and green space, complement local and regional tourism, and provide opportunities to amplify Indigenous voices and stories.

The designation will come over the next few years through various consultation with various stakeholders.

Federal Minister Steven Guilbeault says the concept of a national urban park is a relatively new program.

He says there is only one in the country: the Rouge National Park just outside Toronto, with others in development. He says what the park looks like is up to the city and the various stakeholders, noting that Parks Canada can go as fast as is needed.

Mayor Danny Breen says there’s a lot of land in the city that would be a “good candidate” for the park.