California's park system is raising prices on annual day-use passes to prevent further service cuts, says state parks spokesman Roy Stearns.
On May 1 the following passes will increase:
- Vehicle Day Use Annual Pass, from $125 to $195
- Golden Poppy Vehicle Day Use Pass, from $90 to $125
- Boat Use Pass (Sticker), from $75 to $100
- Limited Use Golden Bear Pass, from $10 to $20
Although the parks department expects that some visitors will be priced out of the new passes, they project making between $1 to $1.5 million per year from the increased fees.
"Will park attendance go down? We don't think so," says Stearns. "People who normally buy a pass might stop buying the pass and just pay the day use. People who buy the pass because they go often will [still] buy the pass… [I]f you go more than 15 times a year, like boaters and surfers, you'll buy the pass because it's still a good deal."
The additional revenues will not go to saving parks on the closure list but will support services like park programs and keep restrooms open, Stearns says.