Bills Propose No Fees For Senior Citizens, Vets Using State Parks

About 20 different bills concerning the state’s Passport to Parks program have been submitted to the state legislature - ranging from altering it to totally eliminating it.

The majority of the bills submitted, though, ask for two main groups to be exempt from fees to use the state parks - senior citizens and veterans.

Currently there are no exemptions.

All the bills have been referred to the General Assembly’s Environment Committee.

Beginning in 2018, Connecticut began offering all residents with Connecticut license plates on their vehicles free parking at all state parks and beaches for a $10 fee, which amounts to $5 per year, to be included in all two-year non-commercial vehicles with new registrations, renewals and plate transfers.

These are passenger cars and vehicles with combination plates as well as motorcycles, campers/motor homes and vehicles with antique car plates.

Out of state vehicles are still charged entry fees.

The program was initiated in the hopes of giving the state parks a steady income stream to rely on for park maintenance.

Photo by Jack Kramer