It's been a busy couple of months for DNR's Recreation Program as our staff work on ramping up for the summer season. On top of that, the rollout of the Discover Pass has kept us scrambling as well.
Thank you for your patience as we have launched this new program in less than two months. Here's an update on how things are coming along...
Nearly $1.5 million worth of Discover Passes have been purchased since they went on sale in mid-June. Each week, we're seeing more yellow hangtags in vehicles parked on state recreation lands managed by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.
Overall, we're pleased with the way sales are going. The Discover Pass has only been required on state recreation lands since July 1. Barely three weeks into it, we're seeing a steady increase in participation. On DNR-managed lands, our field staff report that 50 percent of vehicles are displaying the Discover Pass at designated recreational facilities. We expect that number to continue to rise as more and more folks learn about the Pass.
If you've already purchased a pass, thanks for doing your part to help keep recreation access open. Without revenue from the Discover Pass, the three agencies would have been faced with closing access to outdoor recreation opportunities across the state. For DNR-managed lands, this would have meant closing some of our most popular places such as Tiger Mountain and Lake Spokane.
The Discover Pass represents a shift in how the state pays for providing
access to outdoor recreational opportunities. If you've purchased a pass,
consider yourself a partner in this new, more sustainable approach to
ensuring recreation access now and for the future.
The devil is definitely in the details...
Getting the Discover Pass program up and running has had its bumps. DNR
staff is working with staff from WDFW and State Parks to improve the
purchasing process and communication about where the pass is required.
Please continue to pass along your issues so that we are aware of them and
can work toward a solution. Again, we appreciate your patience as we work
through any glitches.
Perhaps the biggest concern we've heard from the public is the one-passper-
vehicle requirement. Many people have several vehicles they could
potentially use to access recreation land. One of the common questions we
hear is:
Why can't a Discover Pass be transferred from one vehicle to
another, instead of needing one for each vehicle?During the 2011 session, legislators considered several options, including
making the pass a per-person permit. But based on research conducted late
last winter, we learned that a per-vehicle pass would generate sufficient
revenue to make up for the loss of state General Funds. Sharing a pass
among a household of vehicles, however, would not raise enough funds to
maintain recreation access on state lands. Research showed that sharing a
pass among households with multiple vehicles, for example, would decrease
revenue by 20 to 25 percent. Therefore, the legislature chose to not further
reduce the funding levels for all three agencies.
Discover Pass makes a great gift!
Looking for a creative way to show your favorite recreation enthusiast that
you care? Consider the gift of a Discover Pass. That's what Bob Schneider
got for Father's Day this year. Read more about Bob on our blog.
Where do you need a Discover Pass on DNR-managed lands?
We've posted new and improved maps on our website showing you where
you need a Discover Pass to recreate on DNR-managed lands. In addition,
we've included a link to a list of these recreation sites, facilities, and trails. Go
to
www.dnr.wa.gov/recreation .
