Over 160 Libraries Offering WI State Park Passes For Checkout In 2023

WISCONSIN — Over 160 libraries across Wisconsin will start offering state park day passes for checkout in May, the Department of Natural Resources announced Wednesday.

The program will let library cardholders check out one of almost 6,300 one-day vehicle passes to the many forests, parks and recreation areas across Wisconsin. It's an expansion after last year's pilot program for the idea, which had just 20 libraries offering 1,000 passes, the DNR said in a news release.

A full list of locations can be found on the DNR’s website ahead of the May 1 program launch.

“We had a great response to our pilot program over the winter, and we are confident this summer and fall opportunity will be just as successful,” said Parks and Recreation Management Bureau Director Steve Schmelzer in the release. “Through this program, Wisconsinites will be able to visit our state park properties this summer without the barrier of a fee. Come explore Wisconsin’s special outside places this summer!”

The program comes as a collaboration between the DNR, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Wisconsin Library Association.

Of the participating libraries, 84 were paid for by two Green Tier businesses, a grant from the C.D. Besadny Fund of the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin, and by the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks. An additional 62 libraries decided to purchase a combined 3,800 passes for their patrons.