PORT TOWNSEND — Peninsula College will allocate $2,000 to the state Parks and Recreation Department as part of its community commitment to keep Fort Worden State Park’s parking free this year.
The college allocated money from Associated Students Council funds and plans to complete the transaction this month.
“We are directing the money for parking because we do not want to see our students pay for it,” said Deborah Johnson, Peninsula College dean of Jefferson Education Services, who oversees the college’s programs in Jefferson County.
About 470 students attend Jefferson County’s Peninsula College branch, which recently relocated to Fort Worden State Park.
The college also employs about 45 mostly part-time faculty members, some driving to campus just to put in five hours a week, Johnson said.
Most other state parks charge their visitors $5 a day for parking.
“We really do not want to pass this onto our students,” said Johnson.
“I am worried that otherwise they would quit school.”
