Parks Open
Server Details
Live BC Parks campsite and day-pass status with freshness and official booking links.
- Status
- Healthy
- Uptime
- 99.4% over 58 days
- Last Tested
- Transport
- Streamable HTTP · MCP 2025-11-25
- URL
- ChatGPT
- –
- Claude
- –
TDQS
Scored across 8 tools
Each tool targets a distinct user intent: alerts, day passes, weather, park discovery, booking links, single-park availability trends, policy/info, and exact campsite search. The descriptions explicitly cross-reference alternatives and include 'not for' guidance, which sharply reduces misselection even where availability-related tools could overlap.
All tools share the same parksopen_ prefix and snake_case style, making names predictable and readable. Most names follow verb_noun form, but park_availability_calendar and park_info are noun-phrase exceptions, so it is not perfectly uniform.
Eight tools is well scoped for a park availability and trip-planning server. Each tool maps to a clear user need, with no obviously redundant tools or excessive surface area.
The surface covers the main lifecycle of park trip planning: discovery, exact campsite availability, single-park calendar views, alerts, weather, day passes, park/policy information, and a handoff booking link. Intentional limits like not booking directly and pausing Ontario inventory are explicit rather than hidden gaps.
Available Tools
8 toolsparksopen_check_alertsClosures, fire bans, advisories, nearby wildfiresARead-onlyIdempotentInspect
Use this when checking current closures, fire bans, advisories, or nearby wildfires for one park or system-wide. Run it before recommending a park in summer; these are 'verify before you travel' notices, never a booking or safety claim.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| park | No | park name; omit for a system-wide summary | |
| system | No | reservation system id, e.g. bc_parks. Omit for the default system. | |
| province | No | province code or URL prefix (bc, on, …) — an alternative to system. |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
No output parameters | ||
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Annotations already establish read-only, open-world, and idempotent behavior, so the description's extra value comes from clarifying that these are 'verify before you travel' notices and 'never a booking or safety claim.' That caveat prevents the agent from overstating what the data means, which is meaningful behavioral context beyond the annotations.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
Two front-loaded sentences carry the purpose, the recommended timing, and an important interpretive caveat with zero wasted words. Every clause earns its place in the description.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Given full schema coverage, rich annotations, and an output schema, the description is complete enough for correct invocation. It states what the tool checks, when to run it, the scope options, and how to interpret the results, so nothing essential is missing.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema description coverage is 100%, so the parameter semantics baseline is 3. The description does add that results can be for 'one park or system-wide,' which aligns with the optional park parameter, but it does not add substantial meaning beyond what the schema already documents.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description pairs a specific verb, 'checking,' with a concrete resource: current closures, fire bans, advisories, and nearby wildfires, scoped to either one park or system-wide. This clearly differentiates the tool from weather, booking, availability, and park-info siblings without needing to open their schemas.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description gives explicit usage context: 'Use this when checking current closures...' and 'Run it before recommending a park in summer.' It does not explicitly name alternative tools or state when not to use it, but the timing and scope guidance is clear enough for an agent to select it confidently.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
parksopen_check_day_passesCheck BC Parks day-pass availabilityARead-onlyIdempotentInspect
Use this when the user asks whether a BC Parks day-use pass is required, available, sold out, not released yet, or closed for a date, park, access area, or AM/PM slot. It returns the access areas currently covered by live checks across a three-day booking window, with explicit No pass needed versus Sold out states, freshness, coverage limits, the Parks Open comparison page, and the official BC Parks booking handoff. If live inventory is stale, incomplete, or conflicts with published rules, it fails closed and will not claim Available or Sold out.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| date | No | visit date, YYYY-MM-DD. Omit for today in British Columbia. | |
| days | No | number of consecutive dates to compare, 1 to 3; default is the full 3-day booking window | |
| parks | No | optional park names, e.g. ['Golden Ears', 'Garibaldi']; omit to return every tracked day-pass park |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| to | Yes | |
| from | Yes | |
| live | Yes | |
| note | Yes | |
| page | Yes | |
| parks | Yes | |
| freshness | Yes | |
| booking_url | Yes | |
| observed_at | Yes | |
| suggestions | Yes | |
| coverage_through | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Beyond the annotations (readOnly, idempotent, openWorld), the description discloses fail-closed behavior under stale/conflicting data, freshness, coverage limits, the comparison page, and the booking handoff. This is rich behavioral context an agent could not infer from structured fields.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
Front-loads the usage trigger, then packs return states, coverage limits, and the fail-closed guarantee into dense sentences with little waste. Slightly long, but every clause carries signal.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
An output schema exists, so return values need not be explained, yet the description still conveys the key states, freshness, coverage limits, and the fail-closed guarantee. Nothing needed to call this correctly is missing.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema description coverage is 100%, so the schema already documents date, days, and parks, including defaults and bounds. The description adds only the three-day booking-window framing, and mentions 'access area' and 'AM/PM slot' which are not parameters, so baseline 3 applies.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
States a specific verb+resource (check BC Parks day-pass availability) and enumerates the exact question states it answers (required, available, sold out, not released, closed). It is clearly distinguishable from siblings like parksopen_search_campsites or parksopen_check_alerts.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The opening 'Use this when the user asks whether...' gives explicit trigger conditions covering date, park, access area, and AM/PM slot. It does not, however, name a sibling alternative or state when-not to use it, so it stops short of a 5.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
parksopen_check_weatherForecast and air quality at a parkARead-onlyIdempotentInspect
Use this when the user asks about forecast conditions or air quality at a named park. It returns the Environment Canada forecast (daily high/low/conditions, about 6 days) and AQHI for the nearest station; if the park is beyond range it says so and never invents temperatures.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| park | Yes | park name | |
| system | No | reservation system id, e.g. bc_parks. Omit for the default system. | |
| province | No | province code or URL prefix (bc, on, …) — an alternative to system. |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
No output parameters | ||
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Beyond the annotations (readOnlyHint, openWorldHint, idempotentHint, destructiveHint), the description discloses the data source (Environment Canada), the format (daily high/low/conditions, about 6 days), the AQHI from nearest station, and the honest behavior of saying when out of range and never inventing temperatures. This adds substantial behavioral context beyond the annotations.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
The description is a single, front-loaded sentence that packs the trigger condition, the output content, and an edge-case guarantee without waste. Every clause adds value, making it concise and well-structured.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
The description covers the core purpose, data source, output scope, and a key edge case (out-of-range handling). An output schema exists to define the return structure, so the description doesn't need to repeat that. It is complete for a low-complexity tool, though it doesn't mention error handling for invalid park names, which is a minor gap.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema coverage is 100%, so the input schema already documents all three parameters (park, system, province) with descriptions. The tool description adds no extra parameter-level detail beyond what the schema provides, so it meets the baseline of 3 but does not exceed it.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description states a specific action (check forecast and air quality) on a specific resource (named park), and clearly distinguishes from siblings like check_alerts or park_info. The trigger condition is explicit: 'Use this when the user asks about forecast conditions or air quality at a named park.'
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description gives a clear when-to-use trigger ('when the user asks about forecast conditions or air quality at a named park'), but does not explicitly mention when not to use it or name alternative tools. It implies the scope well but lacks an explicit exclusion or alternative routing.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
parksopen_find_open_parksFind parks with openings (ranked)ARead-onlyIdempotentInspect
Use this when the user has not named a park and wants PARKS ranked by soonest opening or estimated drive time, such as 'where can I camp this weekend' or 'anything near Vancouver with space'. It uses the default tent-compatible inventory and can filter confirmed amenities. Do not use it when van, trailer, RV, or other equipment fit matters; use parksopen_search_campsites with equipment_class. For a named park use parksopen_search_campsites or parksopen_park_availability_calendar.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| limit | No | ||
| nights | No | default 2 (weekend) or 1 | |
| region | No | restrict to a region name as the site shows it, e.g. 'Vancouver Island' | |
| system | No | reservation system id, e.g. bc_parks. Omit for the default system. | |
| weekend | No | this coming weekend (Fri→Sun, 2 nights) | |
| province | No | province code or URL prefix (bc, on, …) — an alternative to system. | |
| amenities | No | ANDed site attributes (confirmed-only; the count is a floor) | |
| near_city | No | rank by drive time from this city (Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Whistler, Kelowna, Kamloops, Cranbrook, Prince George, Fort St. John) | |
| start_date | No | a specific arrival date; omit to find the soonest opening | |
| horizon_days | No | how far ahead to look when no date is fixed; default 14 |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
No output parameters | ||
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Annotations already declare readOnlyHint, openWorldHint, idempotentHint, and destructiveHint=false, so the safety profile is covered. The description adds meaningful behavioral context beyond annotations: it uses the default tent-compatible inventory, can filter confirmed amenities, and ranks results by soonest opening or drive time. This helps the agent understand result semantics without contradicting the annotations.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
Three sentences with no filler: use case and examples first, then default behavior, then clear exclusions with alternatives. Every sentence adds decision-relevant information and the most important scoping constraint is front-loaded.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
The description fully covers when to use the tool, when not to use it, and which alternatives to choose. With an output schema present and detailed input schema descriptions, an agent has everything needed to select and invoke the tool correctly. No critical context is missing.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema description coverage is 90%, so most parameters are already well documented in the schema. The description adds useful context like default tent-compatible inventory and confirmed amenities, but it does not explain individual parameters beyond what the schema provides. Baseline 3 is appropriate because the schema carries the parameter-documentation burden.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description states a specific action: finding parks ranked by soonest opening or estimated drive time when no park is named. It explicitly distinguishes itself from siblings by defining its scope (unnamed park, ranked results, default tent-compatible inventory), so an agent can select it without inspecting other tools.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
It gives explicit when-to-use guidance with concrete user examples, and states when not to use it: when equipment fit matters or when a specific park is named. It names the exact alternatives (parksopen_search_campsites with equipment_class, parksopen_park_availability_calendar), leaving no ambiguity.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
parksopen_get_booking_linkBooking link for a park and datesARead-onlyIdempotentInspect
Use this when a search is complete, or when the user already knows the park and dates, to create a deterministic official reservation link with park, dates, and equipment pre-filled. The user completes the booking there; Parks Open never books, holds sites, takes payment, or treats the link itself as proof of availability.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| park | Yes | park name — approximate is fine | |
| system | No | reservation system id, e.g. bc_parks | |
| category | No | ||
| end_date | Yes | ||
| province | No | province code or prefix, e.g. bc | |
| start_date | Yes | ||
| equipment_class | No | canonical class or free text; default tent |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
No output parameters | ||
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Annotations already declare readOnlyHint, openWorldHint, idempotentHint, and destructiveHint=false. The description adds valuable context beyond those: 'The user completes the booking there; Parks Open never books, holds sites, takes payment, or treats the link itself as proof of availability.' This clarifies the tool's non-side-effects and scope, which is not fully covered by annotations. No contradiction.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
The description is two sentences and front-loads the primary usage condition ('Use this when a search is complete...'). The second sentence provides useful cautionary behavior without being overly long. It is appropriately sized, though the behavioral caveat could be slightly more compact.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Given the tool's complexity (7 params, 3 required, one enum) and the presence of an output schema, the description covers the key contextual aspects: what it creates, when to use it, and what it does not do. It lacks specific details about parameter constraints, but the schema and output schema cover return values. The description is sufficient for an agent to decide when and how to invoke it.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema description coverage is 57%, meaning 3 parameters (end_date, start_date, category) lack descriptive text. The description only mentions 'park, dates, and equipment pre-filled,' adding minimal meaning. It does not clarify the expected date format, the purpose of 'system' or 'province', or how 'category' affects the link. With moderate coverage, the description should compensate more than it does.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description clearly states the tool's function: 'create a deterministic official reservation link with park, dates, and equipment pre-filled.' It also distinguishes itself from sibling tools (search, availability, info) by explicitly noting this is for when a search is complete or park/dates are already known. This makes the tool's role unambiguous.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description explicitly states when to use the tool: 'when a search is complete, or when the user already knows the park and dates.' It also implies when not to use it by excluding booking behavior ('Parks Open never books...'), but it does not name alternative sibling tools or provide a direct contrast. This is clear context with only minor missing exclusions.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
parksopen_park_availability_calendarPark availability calendar (8 weeks)ARead-onlyIdempotentInspect
Use this when the user asks 'when is X free', 'how busy is X', or 'which weekend should I try' for ONE named park. It returns nightly open counts for the next 8 weeks, whole-stay counts for four weekends, fill rate, and booking rules. For exact equipment fit or specific dates across many parks use parksopen_search_campsites.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| days | No | ||
| park | Yes | park name — approximate is fine | |
| system | No | reservation system id, e.g. bc_parks | |
| province | No | province code or prefix, e.g. bc |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
No output parameters | ||
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Beyond the readOnly/idempotent annotations, the description discloses result contents: nightly open counts, whole-stay counts for four weekends, fill rate, and booking rules. It is slightly loose about the 8-week window, which the configurable days parameter can extend up to 92 days, but that is a minor semantic wrinkle.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
Three short sentences, each earning its place: one for when to use, one for what it returns, and one for the alternative. The trigger phrases are front-loaded and there is no filler.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Given the output schema, the description does not need to enumerate return fields, and it covers scope, trigger, output highlights, and the main alternative. The only substantive gap is the days parameter, whose effect is neither described in the schema nor clearly connected to the '8 weeks' language in the description.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
The schema already documents park, system, and province. The description adds usage context for park ('ONE named park') and implies a default time window ('next 8 weeks', 'four weekends'), but it never explains the days parameter or how it affects the calendar range, leaving that parameter largely undocumented.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description states a specific action for a bounded resource: 'returns nightly open counts for the next 8 weeks' for 'ONE named park'. It also anchors the trigger phrases ('when is X free', 'how busy is X', 'which weekend should I try'), distinguishing it clearly from sibling tools, especially parksopen_search_campsites.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
It explicitly opens with 'Use this when...' and gives concrete user-query examples. It then names the alternative and the condition for choosing it: 'For exact equipment fit or specific dates across many parks use parksopen_search_campsites.'
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
parksopen_park_infoPark facts, rules and fees (knowledge base)ARead-onlyIdempotentInspect
Use this when the user asks about reservation policy, fees, pets, fires, facilities, or park descriptions, such as 'does X allow dogs' or 'when do reservations open'. Verified policy knowledge currently covers BC Parks only; other systems return an explicit unsupported answer with the official source. Specify system or province for general policy questions; without a park or system the scope is BC Parks. Do not use it for availability (parksopen_search_campsites) or current closures (parksopen_check_alerts).
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| park | No | park name, when the question is about one park | |
| system | No | reservation system id, e.g. bc_parks | |
| province | No | province code or prefix, e.g. bc | |
| question | Yes | what you want to know (fees, pets, fires, showers, reservations policy…) |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
No output parameters | ||
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Annotations already declare readOnly, idempotent, openWorld, non-destructive, so the safety profile is covered. The description adds genuinely useful behavior beyond that: verified policy coverage is limited to BC Parks, other systems return an explicit unsupported answer with an official source, and the default scope falls back to BC Parks. It does not discuss answer length or formatting, but the coverage limit and fallback are the important disclosures.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
Three dense sentences, front-loaded with the use case, then coverage caveat, then routing exclusions. Every clause carries decision-relevant information with no filler.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
An output schema exists, so return-value explanation is unnecessary. Given four optional params at full schema coverage and rich annotations, the description supplies the remaining gaps — coverage limits, default scope, and sibling routing — making it complete for correct invocation.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema description coverage is 100%, so the baseline is 3, but the description adds selection semantics the schema lacks: specify system or province for general policy questions, and omitting park/system defaults the scope to BC Parks. That is a real rule about how the optional parameters interact, not a restatement.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
States a specific knowledge-base retrieval purpose with concrete topic coverage (reservation policy, fees, pets, fires, facilities) and example questions. The title and description together make it unmistakable versus the availability and alerts siblings.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
Gives both when-to-use ('user asks about reservation policy, fees, pets...') and explicit exclusions routing to parksopen_search_campsites for availability and parksopen_check_alerts for closures. It even names the sibling tools for those cases, leaving nothing to inference.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
parksopen_search_campsitesSearch campsites by live availabilityARead-onlyIdempotentInspect
Use this when exact dates or equipment fit matter, for questions like 'is X available', 'find a site for the long weekend', or 'which parks have space for a 32 ft RV'. It reads observed campsite availability for BC Parks. Ontario collection is paused; Ontario live inventory and camping alerts are unavailable. Filters the official sites cannot: exact equipment fit, electrical, waterfront, shade, pets, privacy — across every park at once. Returns only sites observed open for EVERY requested night, with an absolute Parks Open page URL to cite, a booking link into the official reservation flow (we never book for the user), and observed_at for freshness; verify availability on the official site. Not for: fees, rules, facilities (use parksopen_park_info), weather (parksopen_check_weather), closures (parksopen_check_alerts), or dates beyond the provider's booking window.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| park | No | park name — approximate is fine (partial, missing 'Provincial', misspelled). Omit to search every park. If it cannot be resolved you get a did-you-mean list. | |
| limit | No | page size, default 20 | |
| cursor | No | opaque cursor from a previous page | |
| system | No | reservation system id, e.g. bc_parks. Omit for every tracked system. | |
| category | No | booking category; default frontcountry (drive-in campsites) | |
| end_date | Yes | departure, YYYY-MM-DD (exclusive; nights = end − start) | |
| province | No | province code or URL prefix (bc, on, …) — an alternative to system. | |
| amenities | No | ANDed site attributes: electrical, waterfront, pets, some_shade, full_shade, double, near_restroom, walk_in, accessible, pull_through, private, big_rig | |
| start_date | Yes | arrival, YYYY-MM-DD | |
| min_privacy | No | 'Good' or 'Excellent' | |
| equipment_class | No | canonical class (tent, tent2, tent3, van, trailer_18, rv_32, rv_32_plus) or free text like '30ft trailer'. Default tent. |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| note | Yes | |
| total | Yes | |
| nights | Yes | |
| closure | Yes | |
| results | Yes | |
| next_cursor | Yes | |
| observed_at | Yes | |
| suggestions | Yes | |
| resolved_park | Yes | |
| equipment_class | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Annotations already declare readOnly/idempotent/non-destructive, so the safety profile is covered. The description adds genuinely useful behavior beyond that: Ontario collection is paused, results are only sites observed open for EVERY requested night, it never books, and availability should be verified officially. However, pagination/limits behavior is left entirely to the schema, so it's not maximally rich for an 11-param search tool.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
Front-loaded with the usage trigger, then coverage caveats, then return shape and exclusions — a logical order with little waste. It is dense and long-winded in places (em-dash chains, the amenities aside), which keeps it just short of a 5.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
For a complex, open-world search with an output schema present, the description covers the decision-critical facts: coverage limits (Ontario paused), result semantics (open every night), the no-booking guarantee, freshness via observed_at, and routing to siblings. Nothing an agent needs to call it correctly is missing.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema description coverage is 100%, so every parameter including equipment_class, amenities, and date exclusivity is already documented; baseline 3 applies. The description reinforces which params matter ('exact dates or equipment fit', '32 ft RV') but adds no syntax or format detail beyond the schema.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
States a specific verb+resource ('reads observed campsite availability for BC Parks') and immediately differentiates itself from siblings by listing what it filters that 'the official sites cannot'. An agent can separate it from park_info, check_alerts, check_weather, and park_availability_calendar without opening any schema.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
Opens with an explicit when-to-use trigger with concrete example questions ('is X available', 'long weekend', '32 ft RV'), then gives an explicit 'Not for:' list naming each alternative sibling for fees/rules/weather/closures. Exclusions and alternatives are both spelled out.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
Tool Schema Changelog
Recent tool additions, removals, and schema changes observed during successful MCP inspections.
1 tool update
- Changed
parksopen_find_open_parks1 field changed- changed
Input schema / properties / near_city / descriptionPrevious value: -"rank by drive time from this city (Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Whistler, Kelowna, Kamloops, Cranbrook, Prince George, Fort St. John, Toronto, Ottawa)"New value: +"rank by drive time from this city (Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Whistler, Kelowna, Kamloops, Cranbrook, Prince George, Fort St. John)"
2 tool updates
- Changed
parksopen_find_open_parks1 field changed- changed
Input schema / properties / near_city / descriptionPrevious value: -"rank by drive time from this city (Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Whistler, Kelowna, Kamloops, Cranbrook, Prince George, Fort St. John)"New value: +"rank by drive time from this city (Vancouver, Victoria, Nanaimo, Whistler, Kelowna, Kamloops, Cranbrook, Prince George, Fort St. John, Toronto, Ottawa)"
- Changed
parksopen_park_info6 fields changed- added
Input schema / properties / provinceAdded value: +{ + "description": "province code or prefix, e.g. bc", + "type": "string" +} - added
Input schema / properties / systemAdded value: +{ + "description": "reservation system id, e.g. bc_parks", + "type": "string" +} - removed
Output schema / additionalPropertiesRemoved value: -false - added
Output schema / anyOfAdded value: +[ + { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "context": { + "type": "string" + }, + "note": { + "type": "string" + }, + "park": { + "anyOf": [ + { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "name": { + "type": "string" + }, + "slug": { + "type": "string" + } + }, + "required": [ + "slug", + "name" + ], + "type": "object" + }, + { + "type": "null" + } + ] + }, + "sources": { + "items": { + "type": "string" + }, + "type": "array" + } + }, + "required": [ + "park", + "context", + "sources", + "note" + ], + "type": "object" + }, + { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "error": { + "type": "string" + }, + "suggestions": { + "items": { + "type": "string" + }, + "type": "array" + } + }, + "required": [ + "error" + ], + "type": "object" + } +] - removed
Output schema / propertiesRemoved value: -{ - "context": { - "type": "string" - }, - "note": { - "type": "string" - }, - "park": { - "anyOf": [ - { - "additionalProperties": false, - "properties": { - "name": { - "type": "string" - }, - "slug": { - "type": "string" - } - }, - "required": [ - "slug", - "name" - ], - "type": "object" - }, - { - "type": "null" - } - ] - }, - "sources": { - "items": { - "type": "string" - }, - "type": "array" - } -} - removed
Output schema / requiredRemoved value: -[ - "park", - "context", - "sources", - "note" -]
1 tool update
- Changed
parksopen_check_day_passes1 field changed- changed
Output schema / properties / freshness / enumPrevious value: -[ - "ok", - "no-database", - "no-data", - "incomplete", - "conflict", - "stale", - "error" -]New value: +[ + "ok", + "no-database", + "no-data", + "incomplete", + "conflict", + "stale", + "unknown", + "error" +]
8 tool updates
- Changed
parksopen_check_alerts1 field changed- changed
Output schema / (root)Previous value: -nullNew value: +{ + "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema", + "anyOf": [ + { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "alert": { + "anyOf": [ + { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "access_status": { + "type": "string" + }, + "closed_to_visitors": { + "type": "boolean" + }, + "detail": { + "type": "string" + }, + "from": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + }, + "severity": { + "type": "string" + }, + "title": { + "type": "string" + }, + "type": { + "type": "string" + }, + "until": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + }, + "url": { + "type": "string" + } + }, + "required": [ + "type", + "severity", + "title" + ], + "type": "object" + }, + { + "type": "null" + } + ] + }, + "park": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + }, + "source": { + "type": "string" + }, + "summary": { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "examples": { + "items": { + "type": "string" + }, + "type": "array" + }, + "fireBansOrClosures": { + "type": "number" + }, + "parksNearWildfire": { + "type": "number" + }, + "total": { + "type": "number" + } + }, + "required": [ + "total", + "fireBansOrClosures", + "parksNearWildfire", + "examples" + ], + "type": "object" + } + }, + "required": [ + "park", + "alert", + "source" + ], + "type": "object" + }, + { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "error": { + "type": "string" + }, + "suggestions": { + "items": { + "type": "string" + }, + "type": "array" + } + }, + "required": [ + "error" + ], + "type": "object" + } + ], + "type": "object" +}
- Added
parksopen_check_day_passes - Changed
parksopen_check_weather1 field changed- changed
Output schema / (root)Previous value: -nullNew value: +{ + "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema", + "anyOf": [ + { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "park": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + }, + "weather": { + "anyOf": [ + { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "aqhi": { + "type": [ + "number", + "null" + ] + }, + "city": { + "type": "string" + }, + "currentTemp": { + "type": [ + "number", + "null" + ] + }, + "days": { + "items": { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "condition": { + "type": "string" + }, + "date": { + "type": "string" + }, + "high": { + "type": [ + "number", + "null" + ] + }, + "icon": { + "type": "string" + }, + "label": { + "type": "string" + }, + "low": { + "type": [ + "number", + "null" + ] + }, + "pop": { + "type": [ + "number", + "null" + ] + } + }, + "required": [ + "date", + "label", + "high", + "low", + "icon", + "condition", + "pop" + ], + "type": "object" + }, + "type": "array" + }, + "updated": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + } + }, + "required": [ + "city", + "updated", + "currentTemp", + "days", + "aqhi" + ], + "type": "object" + }, + { + "type": "null" + } + ] + } + }, + "required": [ + "park", + "weather" + ], + "type": "object" + }, + { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "error": { + "type": "string" + }, + "suggestions": { + "items": { + "type": "string" + }, + "type": "array" + } + }, + "required": [ + "error" + ], + "type": "object" + } + ], + "type": "object" +}
- Changed
parksopen_find_open_parks1 field changed- changed
Output schema / (root)Previous value: -nullNew value: +{ + "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema", + "anyOf": [ + { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "amenities_applied": { + "items": { + "type": "string" + }, + "type": "array" + }, + "horizon_days": { + "type": "number" + }, + "nights": { + "type": "number" + }, + "note": { + "type": "string" + }, + "observed_at": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + }, + "parks": { + "items": { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "drive_min": { + "type": [ + "number", + "null" + ] + }, + "earliest_date": { + "type": "string" + }, + "earliest_offset_days": { + "type": "number" + }, + "ferry": { + "type": "boolean" + }, + "page": { + "type": "string" + }, + "park": { + "type": "string" + }, + "region": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + }, + "sites_open": { + "type": "number" + } + }, + "required": [ + "park", + "page", + "region", + "earliest_date", + "earliest_offset_days", + "sites_open", + "drive_min", + "ferry" + ], + "type": "object" + }, + "type": "array" + }, + "total_with_openings": { + "type": "number" + }, + "window": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + } + }, + "required": [ + "nights", + "horizon_days", + "window", + "amenities_applied", + "parks", + "total_with_openings", + "observed_at", + "note" + ], + "type": "object" + }, + { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "error": { + "type": "string" + }, + "suggestions": { + "items": { + "type": "string" + }, + "type": "array" + } + }, + "required": [ + "error" + ], + "type": "object" + } + ], + "type": "object" +}
- Changed
parksopen_get_booking_link1 field changed- changed
Output schema / (root)Previous value: -nullNew value: +{ + "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema", + "anyOf": [ + { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "booking_url": { + "type": "string" + }, + "equipment_class": { + "type": "string" + }, + "page": { + "type": "string" + }, + "park": { + "type": "string" + }, + "park_key": { + "type": "string" + }, + "system": { + "type": "string" + } + }, + "required": [ + "system", + "park", + "park_key", + "equipment_class", + "booking_url", + "page" + ], + "type": "object" + }, + { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "error": { + "type": "string" + }, + "suggestions": { + "items": { + "type": "string" + }, + "type": "array" + } + }, + "required": [ + "error" + ], + "type": "object" + } + ], + "type": "object" +}
- Changed
parksopen_park_availability_calendar1 field changed- changed
Output schema / (root)Previous value: -nullNew value: +{ + "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema", + "anyOf": [ + { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "fill_rate_pct": { + "type": [ + "number", + "null" + ] + }, + "nights": { + "items": { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "date": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + }, + "open_sites": { + "type": "number" + } + }, + "required": [ + "date", + "open_sites" + ], + "type": "object" + }, + "type": "array" + }, + "note": { + "type": "string" + }, + "observed_at": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + }, + "page": { + "type": "string" + }, + "park": { + "type": "string" + }, + "park_key": { + "type": "string" + }, + "reservable_sites": { + "type": "number" + }, + "rules": { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "max_nights": { + "type": [ + "number", + "null" + ] + }, + "min_lead_days": { + "type": "number" + }, + "window": { + "type": "string" + } + }, + "required": [ + "window", + "min_lead_days", + "max_nights" + ], + "type": "object" + }, + "system": { + "type": "string" + }, + "weekends": { + "items": { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "end": { + "type": "string" + }, + "label": { + "type": "string" + }, + "open_for_whole_stay": { + "type": "number" + }, + "start": { + "type": "string" + } + }, + "required": [ + "start", + "end", + "label", + "open_for_whole_stay" + ], + "type": "object" + }, + "type": "array" + } + }, + "required": [ + "system", + "park", + "park_key", + "page", + "reservable_sites", + "fill_rate_pct", + "nights", + "weekends", + "rules", + "observed_at", + "note" + ], + "type": "object" + }, + { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "error": { + "type": "string" + }, + "suggestions": { + "items": { + "type": "string" + }, + "type": "array" + } + }, + "required": [ + "error" + ], + "type": "object" + } + ], + "type": "object" +}
- Changed
parksopen_park_info1 field changed- changed
Output schema / (root)Previous value: -nullNew value: +{ + "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema", + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "context": { + "type": "string" + }, + "note": { + "type": "string" + }, + "park": { + "anyOf": [ + { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "name": { + "type": "string" + }, + "slug": { + "type": "string" + } + }, + "required": [ + "slug", + "name" + ], + "type": "object" + }, + { + "type": "null" + } + ] + }, + "sources": { + "items": { + "type": "string" + }, + "type": "array" + } + }, + "required": [ + "park", + "context", + "sources", + "note" + ], + "type": "object" +}
- Changed
parksopen_search_campsites1 field changed- changed
Output schema / (root)Previous value: -nullNew value: +{ + "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema", + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "closure": { + "anyOf": [ + { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "park": { + "type": "string" + }, + "source": { + "type": "string" + }, + "title": { + "type": "string" + }, + "until": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + } + }, + "required": [ + "park", + "title", + "until", + "source" + ], + "type": "object" + }, + { + "type": "null" + } + ] + }, + "equipment_class": { + "type": "string" + }, + "next_cursor": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + }, + "nights": { + "type": "number" + }, + "note": { + "type": "string" + }, + "observed_at": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + }, + "resolved_park": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + }, + "results": { + "items": { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "attributes": { + "additionalProperties": false, + "properties": { + "adjacent": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + }, + "electrical": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + }, + "privacy": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + }, + "shade": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + } + }, + "required": [ + "privacy", + "shade", + "electrical", + "adjacent" + ], + "type": "object" + }, + "booking_url": { + "type": "string" + }, + "fit": { + "type": "string" + }, + "loop": { + "type": "number" + }, + "nights": { + "type": "number" + }, + "page": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + }, + "park": { + "type": "string" + }, + "park_key": { + "type": "string" + }, + "site_id": { + "type": "number" + }, + "slug": { + "type": [ + "string", + "null" + ] + }, + "system": { + "type": "string" + } + }, + "required": [ + "system", + "park", + "park_key", + "slug", + "page", + "site_id", + "loop", + "nights", + "fit", + "attributes", + "booking_url" + ], + "type": "object" + }, + "type": "array" + }, + "suggestions": { + "items": { + "type": "string" + }, + "type": "array" + }, + "total": { + "type": "number" + } + }, + "required": [ + "results", + "total", + "next_cursor", + "nights", + "equipment_class", + "resolved_park", + "suggestions", + "observed_at", + "closure", + "note" + ], + "type": "object" +}
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