Free State Park Vehicle Admission Day Passes Available from Library

Posted on: November 13, 2022

Editor’s note: The following press release was received from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Irvin L. Young Memorial Library

Check Out Wisconsin’s State Parks At Your Library
Pilot Program Plans To Increase Park Access

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Irvin L. Young
Memorial Library have announced a pilot program to make state park and forest vehicle admission day
passes available to library card holders at Irvin L. Young Memorial Library.
Starting Tuesday, Nov. 10th, library card holders at 20 libraries across Wisconsin can check out a pass
for free admission for one vehicle at any state park, forest or recreation area where admission is
required. The pilot program ends March 1, 2023.

“The DNR is continually looking for innovative opportunities to bring more people to state parks and
forests and to ensure everyone in Wisconsin has access to our incredible natural resources,” said
Steve Schmelzer, Director of the DNR Bureau of Parks and Recreation. “By partnering with Wisconsin’s
library system, we can reach households who may not be as familiar with the wide array of
opportunities Wisconsin’s state parks and forests offer.”

The pilot program, Check Out Wisconsin’s State Parks at Your Library, is a collaborative effort between
the DNR, Wisconsin Library Association’s Wisconsin Association of Public Libraries and Wisconsin
Department of Public Instruction. Nicolet Federated Library System and Southwest Wisconsin Library
System underwrote the day passes cost.

“Our library provides resources for everyone of all ages and backgrounds about a broad range of
topics, so adding access to our state park system is a natural fit. We are excited to participate as a pilot
library, and we hope to see this program flourish in our community. Anyone with questions about the
program should stop by the library,” said Diane Jaroch, Assistant Library Director.

Along with the day pass, the cardholder will receive an informational kit of state park system materials
and maps, a Wisconsin Explorer Program book, stickers, accessibility information and more. The
program’s goal is to expand access to the Wisconsin state park system to new park visitors. Irvin L.
Young Memorial Library received 50 passes, each with a one-time use.

Based on participant feedback and funding, the DNR plans to continue the program in 2023. Each pass
includes a survey link so the DNR can gather information about who used the passes and how they
enjoyed their park experience. After using the pass, participants who complete the survey will be
eligible to win one of ten 2023 annual state park and forest vehicle admission stickers paid for by the
Friends of Wisconsin State Parks.

Learn more about Irvin L. Young Memorial Library and how to get a library card at
www.whitewaterlibrary.org. For more information about the pilot program, visit the DNR website at
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/to p ic/parks/outwigo.