By Sara Kennedy
Anyone who renews tabs on a vehicle in Washington should by now be aware of the recent price hike on the Discover Pass, the pass for parking lots and trailheads throughout Washington State public lands. Not just a small increase of a couple bucks, this $15 jump represents a whopping 50% price rise. Should we be mad?
I’m not. I live close enough to Riverside State Park to easily use the trailheads regularly. One thing I’ve noticed is that the parking areas are always nice. The restrooms are clean, the asphalt is swept, the trashcans are never overflowing. Not only are these public areas maintained, but they are actively improved. The 7-Mile Airstrip trailhead was just a dirt lot a couple of years ago, but now it’s a dirt lot with a bathroom, picnic shelter and water fountains for people and dogs. I wish I could see my tax dollars working that hard.
Rex Schultz, Washington State Parks community engagement manager at Riverside State Park, explained that when the Discover Pass program began in 2011, it cost $30. There have been no price increases until this year, making the jump well overdue. Discover Pass fees not only fund Washington State Parks but also the Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.
“Discover Pass sales are becoming increasingly important for State Parks because we’ve become more reliant on earned revenue for our operations. Despite the price increase, we won’t see significant new revenues because Washington legislators reduced our funding appropriations and added new costs to our agency. Currently, 72% of our operating budget must be earned through Discover Pass sales and other fees. The remaining 28% comes from the state general fund,” wrote Sarah Fronk, media contact for Washington State Parks, in a recent press release.
A colleague of mine was frustrated with the price increase, concerned that lower-income families may be priced out of public recreation. Fortunately, public libraries offer a solution. Discover Passes are available to check out for free for one week at Spokane Public Libraries.
I’ve tried breaking down the new price into a daily/weekly/monthly rate, but have found that justifying a cost isn’t helpful. The cost isn’t the important part, but the value is. The value of accessible trailheads that are clean, maintained, and that open up opportunities for fitness, adventure and proximity to nature? Priceless.
