State may impose fee to visit state parks

Published 12:01 am Thursday, May 5, 2011

OLYMPIA — Visitors to Washington state parks may have to pay a fee, starting in July.

A bill to create the Discover Pass passed the Legislature and is awaiting Gov. Chris Gregoire’s signature.

A pass would cost $10 a day or $30 a year per vehicle.

The Olympian reports the passes are expected to generate more than $64 million every two years. Most of the money would go to the state Parks and Recreation Commission. Smaller amounts would go to the Fish and Wildlife Department and the Department of Natural Resources.

Washington has 119 state parks and millions of acres of publicly owned land.