MADISON, Conn. — Several top state officials joined the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection on Friday at Hammonasset Beach State Park to celebrate the state’s Passport to the Parks program.
Since being established in 2018, the program has made State Parks easier to access by allowing Connecticut residents driving with Connecticut-registered vehicles to enter parks without paying a daily entrance fee. According to a release from DEEP, Connecticut is the only state in the northeast to do so.
A small annual fee is charged at the time of vehicle registration, providing a stable source of funding to support parks operations and staffing. DEEP said the Passport fund was created several years ago as a flat $5 annual fee attached to vehicle registration.
RELATED: DEEP Commissioner Dykes speaks out against Supreme Court striking down ‘Good Neighbor Rule’
As operation costs are subject to inflation and increased visitation, the legislature passed an increase to the program this past legislative session to keep the access and ease of use available for residents. Beginning next July, the Passport fee will rise from $5 annually to $8 annually, or $24 during the customary three-year vehicle registration renewal, according to DEEP.
Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz was on-hand Friday and said the program is a win-win for Connecticut residents and State Parks. She said Passport has made the parks, forests, trails, historic sites and beaches more accessible and available to residents by eliminating parking fees for those with Connecticut registered plates.
“This means easier access for residents, making it an easier decision to make a quick visit to a State Park on your way home from work or when you have a brief window in your day, and it also means you can come and go without paying an entrance fee each time, so you can step out to visit a local restaurant for a quick lunch. This fund also supports the operation of the State Parks, helping DEEP ensure that our Parks are well-maintained, staffed, and inviting for the 17 million visitors to our Parks each year,” Bysiewicz said in the release.
DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said that providing equitable access to the outdoors is an integral part of DEEP’s mission. She said the Passport to the Parks program is one of the department’s most important tools to accomplish that goal.
According to Dykes, the program makes parks more accessible to state residents, removes barriers to entry and incentivizes residents to spend time in State Parks.
“This program also enables DEEP to pay for operational costs such as utilities, and all other costs to support the safe, sanitary operation of our 142 State Parks and forests, from trash removal to lifeguards,” Dykes said in the release. “Thank you to Gov. (Ned) Lamont and Lt. Governor Bysiewicz, and our partners in the State Legislature, for recognizing the importance of a stable and sufficient source of funding for our Parks, and the value it provides to Connecticut residents.”
State Rep. Holly Cheeseman (R-East Lyme) said in the release that she was delighted to be in attendance Friday with other stakeholders to celebrate the state’s investment in the parks system. She said that State Parks are a “priceless treasure and our continued commitment to them will preserve them for today’s visitors and future generations.”
State Sen. Christine Cohen (D-Madison) said in the release that Connecticut residents are very fortunate to have incredible and diverse State Parks.
“With summer officially in full swing, residents can get out and experience everything this great state has to offer, from the beautiful beaches of Hammonasset, to the hiking trails of Chatfield Hollow and so much more – all at no cost through the Passport to the Parks program,” Cohen said in the release. “Between this innovative program and the recent state investments into our parks, I am grateful for the leadership and partnership of Gov. Lamont and Commissioner Dykes and their commitment to preserving our green spaces.”
On Friday, DEEP also announced a new opportunity for residents to display their affinity for State Parks by unveiling new parks-themed t-shirts designed by DEEP’s visual media designer Joe Cunningham.
According to the release, the designs are modeled after the old Works Progress Administration posters advertising different National Parks that are “elegant in their simplicity and timeless look and currently enjoying renewed popularity. Shirts for Hammonasset and Talcott Mountain are currently available, and more park designs are planned. Net proceeds from the sales go towards the Passport fund.
The shirts cost $23 in both designs and come in multiple colors. One can buy them here. The designs will also be available for future purchase as posters soon, according to the release.
In the coming weeks, the state will add a form to its CTParks.com website to allow residents to join in on the fun and share ideas as to what State Park designs they would like to see next.
“We are excited to hear which parks hit the top of the list,” the release said.
----
Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
----
Do you have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com.
----
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.