Well, the poor are the losers in this proposal. Those who can’t afford to pay to come to our parks, can just stay home, apparently. This is the sad outcome of a combination of voters who think they are paying too much in taxes, so aren’t willing to pay more, and a terrible recession. Lawmakers are left with having to charge you for everything. Wonder if we will ever see a free park system again? Ideas like this usually never goes back, just continues to go up in price. Perhaps there should be a sliding scale for those who are unemployed?
2/2 Tacoma News Tribune
Lawmakers consider $30 fee for parks, forests
JORDAN SCHRADER; Staff writer
Washington’s state forests and parks may be priceless, but that isn’t keeping policymakers from floating an admission charge: $30.
That’s the cost of an annual parking pass for public lands in a proposal receiving its first hearing in the Legislature today. Those who don’t buy the “Discover Pass” would pay $10 for a single day’s visit or face a ticket.
It’s a bargain, supporters say, considering the alternative is closing off lands to the public to help the state close a $4.6 billion budget shortfall.
More at
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/02/02/1526784/30-fee-would-pay-for-parks-forests.html
Filed under: Places | Tagged: legislature |
Why not have a day a week or month that access is free like the first Thursday for museums in Seattle?. Parks are public places where all should be able to enjoy nature.Those who cannot afford a fee now may well have contributed when they were employed. The access should always be for all even if staged at particular times to fit budgets.