July 26, 2018 – Washington Co., WI – At the beginning of 2018 Washington County started requiring people to purchase a pass to enter and enjoy Washington County Parks.
The parks included: Ackerman’s Grove County Park, Town of Polk, Glacier Hills County Park, Village of Richfield, Heritage Trails County Park, Town of Polk, Homestead Hollow County Park, Village of Germantown, Leonard J. Yahr County Park, Town of Farmington, and Sandy Knoll County Park, Town of Trenton.
Eric Hyde, Washington County Parks Property Manager, said 2202 annual passes have been sold to date, July 23, 2018.
“This doesn’t include roughly 700-800 annual passes given to families with the Washington County FC, a youth soccer league, and families with children in the Germantown Parks & Rec Kidz Club Summer Camp,” said Hyde. “These families received passes through the respective organizations, we basically gave them bulk pricing. Revenue from those arrangements is not reflected in the table below.”
The Washington County Parks System required park visitors to purchase a daily park entrance fee or an annual park sticker within 7 days from their visit, with few exceptions.
This week the Washington County Parks Department announced it will start enforcing the parks sticker and entrance fee.
“Park goers are encouraged to pay daily fees or purchase annual stickers,” said Hyde.
License plate recognition cameras have been installed throughout County parks to eliminate the acceptance of cash onsite while allowing visitors the ability to pay up to 7 days after they spend time at the park.
The strategy, according to the County Parks Department is similar to a toll way. Those who fail to pay their entrance fee will be subject to a $50 notice violation and have 30 days to pay. Failure to pay the notice violation within 30 days will result in the issuance of a $200.50 citation.
“We strongly encourage park goers to consider purchasing annual passes to support the park and trail system,” says Hyde. “All of the money collected will go towards maintenance and improvements of the County Park System.”
Click HERE to purchase a sticker or admission for the Washington County Parks.
Click HERE for more information on Washington County Parks, admission, entrance fee, boat launch pass.
On a side note:
-The County’s budget goal was $75,000 in revenue from daily and annual passes.
-These exclude sales tax. Both are a couple thousand dollars away from 2018 budget goals.
Daily Park Entrance Pass $10,506.71
Annual Park Entrance Pass $62,261.47
Total $72,768.18
Daily Boat Launch Pass $7,399.37
Annual Boat Launch Pass $12,163.43
Total $19,562.80
Can you pay onsite at the parks? Phone number to call for more information on locations to purchase park sticker? Thank you
Links to acquire more info on parks sticker and purchase posted. Thanks Lisa.
So you think this is the right thing for our local gov to do???? Dont buy a pass so them we will vote them out of office if this continues
Why do Washington County Residents Have to Pay To Use Our Parks? We Are Paying For The Use On Our Property Tax Already. Seems Like Taxation Without Representation. Every Time We Turn Around We Are Being Charged Some New Tax,Enough Is Enough Already,Come On Man!!!
Our tax money paid for this system once already and now we get to pay for it again-what a deal. Many of us don’t know which parks are which-city, county, state-and a drive through may result in ticket sent in the mail. What a terrible idea.If you don’t watch what YOUR elected officials are doing these are the kind of ideas they come with!!I’ll have to make a list of which parks to avoid!!
the parks are very easy to identify…our county spent half a million dollars first to put in kiosk type shelters at every entrance….then the put in cameras….then they need to power this stuff up so they ran electricity to each park entrance…..then they hire someone to view all the photos and send out tickets…..WHAT A SCAM….ask who will repeal this crime against tax payers when you cast your next vote…DONT IGNORE IT
Let me see if I have this correct. As a resident of Washington county my entire life and not only paying property taxes but also everything I buy gets an added half cent county sales tax added on. Now I’m being told if I want to use a county park I need to pay a fee just to take a walk? Sorry but I will not ever go to another county park, I will simply walk in my subdivision where I can do it for free. This is just another way to fleece the hard working people.
Remember the next time you vote……Time to DRAIN THE SWAMP in Washington Co. Get the names of those in office now….and dont vote them in again. We Residents need to show we will not be taxed to use what is already ours. This user fee was put in without a vote. They say they need to extra money……but they sure had enough money to RUN ELECTRICITY to all the NEW pay for use booths and BUY cameras, and pay for Design and printed banners announcing the fees at all the park entrances. Go look at the Thousands of dollars just put in to Glacial Hills wedding venue……How many wedding guests will pay to attend a wedding there…..GOOD THINKING.
DRAIN THE SWAMP…..our politicians better learn how to swim.
P.S. Life jackets will be available for a small fee
The key info missing from this story is WHY are we suddenly being charged to use our own County Parks?! Who’s idea was this and who approved it? Unbelievable. $30/yr??? That’s as much as a State Park pass and that covers 100x more than this does!