Peninsula Daily News news sources
Coincidentally with Washington State Parks preparing to charge admission to all state parks, British Columbia is launching free admission to its provincial parks.
B.C. Premier Christy Clark announced today in Vancouver that parking will now be free in all provincial parks to encourage families to take advantage of the system.
“The parking meters are coming out and parking will be free, effective immediately, so that British Columbia’s parks are even more welcoming for families,” said Clark, as she launched B.C. Parks centennial celebrations.
“Our parks not only contribute to a healthy lifestyle and protect our environment, they are important to our economy. More park visitors mean more tourism dollars and more jobs for rural British Columbians and we want to eliminate any barriers to using the parks.”
As part of a plan to keep Washington’s state parks operating amid a $5.3 billion state budget deficit, the Legislature-passed admission fee proposal is on the desk of Clark’s counterpart, Gov. Chris Gregoire, awaiting Gregoire’s signature.
Gregoire is pleased that the bill — SB 5622 — has passed but intends to review it before signing, according to her staff. The measure would create a $30 annual Discover Pass and a $10 day-use permit for vehicles to enter state parks and other recreational lands owned or managed by the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Fish and Wildlife.
It’s still unclear whether enough people will buy the passes or pay the day-use fee to keep the more than 100 developed state parks open. The state estimates that the annual pass and permit will generate about $53.9 million per biennium for state parks, which is still about $10 million short of what the state park system projects it will need.
