State parks hope more buy in to Discover Pass program in 2012

Now that it’s officially summer, and you’ll be hitting up
parks for some fun, the state is hoping a lot more of you
will buy Discover Passes. Sales last year were way below
expectations, and that has left a huge budget hole that’s
already resulted in layoffs and program cuts.

The Discover Pass was billed as the solution to the state
parks’ funding problems after the Legislature cut $64
million from the budget.

But through the first summer and fall peak seasons, the
Discover Pass program only raised $8 million, less than
half of what was expected, even though the parks
department’s Virginia Painter said attendance was near
expectations.

“We’re hearing from rangers and other parks staff that
they’re not seeing a great fall off in numbers, so if we
do have less people, it would probably be normal,” she
said. “It’s called fee resistance.”

The state parks made up the budget shortfall with layoffs
and program cuts. Those happened earlier this year. The
Legislature then stepped in to allow more than one car on
the Discover Pass. That was one of the major complaints,
and Painter said they’re working on other tweaks to help
sales.

“The legislation provided a way for us to do a family
pass,” Painter said. That would allow families to buy one
pass that would cover all of its vehicles. The cost could
be around $50.

The state has written at least 3,000 tickets for people
using the parks without paying. Those tickets run $99,
and Painter said that appears to be getting through to
people.

“There’s growing compliance with the law,” she said.

But the big question is whether this Discover Pass program
is the best way to fund parks, considering how the public
has responded with sales during its first year.

“Nobody really knows, and I don’t have a crystal ball [to
say] whether long-term, the Discover Pass can sustain
everything it needs to sustain,” Painter said.

The parks department is already planning to go back to
the state and ask for a little more money.

Lawmakers are also considering other ways to generate
money at the parks, like opening concession stands or
selling naming rights.