Press Releases
06/28/2024
DEEP Celebrates the Passport to the Parks Program
New Iconic State Parks T-Shirt Collection Commemorates CT State Parks
(HARTFORD, CT) – The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), joined by Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, State Legislators, and representatives from the Connecticut Forest & Park Association and the Friends of Connecticut State Parks, held an event at Hammonasset Beach State Park today to celebrate Connecticut’s Passport to the Parks program.
Since its inception in 2018, the Passport to the Parks program has helped residents better access State Parks by allowing Connecticut residents driving Connecticut-registered vehicles to enter parks without paying a daily entrance fee, the only state in the Northeast to do so. A modest annual fee is charged at the time of vehicle registration, which provides a stable source of funding to support Parks operations and staffing. The Passport fund was established several years ago as a flat $5 annual fee attached to vehicle registration. With operational costs subject to inflation and increased visitation, and to keep this incredible access and ease of use available for residents, the legislature passed a needed increase to the program this past legislative session. Beginning July 1 of 2025, the Passport fee will increase from $5 annually to $8 annually, or $24 during the customary 3-year vehicle registration renewal.
“The Passport to the Parks program is truly a win-win for Connecticut residents and our Parks,” Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz said. “Passport has made our State Parks, forests, trails, historic sites, and beaches more accessible and available to our residents by eliminating parking fees for those with Connecticut registered vehicles.
This means easier access for residents, making it an easier decision to make a quick visit to a State Park on your way home from work or when you have a brief window in your day, and it also means you can come and go without paying an entrance fee each time, so you can step out to visit a local restaurant for a quick lunch. This fund also supports the operation of the State Parks, helping DEEP ensure that our Parks are well-maintained, staffed, and inviting for the 17 million visitors to our Parks each year.”
“Providing equitable access to the outdoors is a core part of DEEP’s mission, and the Passport program is one of our most important tools to accomplish that goal,” DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said. “This incredible program makes our Parks more accessible to Connecticut residents, removing barriers to entry and really incentivizing residents to spend time in the Parks. This program also enables DEEP to pay for operational costs such as utilities, and all other costs to support the safe, sanitary operation of our 142 state parks and forests, from trash removal to lifeguards. Thank you to Governor Lamont and Lt. Governor Bysiewicz, and our partners in the State Legislature, for recognizing the importance of a stable and sufficient source of funding for our Parks, and the value it provides to Connecticut residents.”
“Connecticut’s parks and beaches are loved by millions of state residents,” said State Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague. “Since we created the Passport to the Parks programs on a bipartisan basis in 2017, Connecticut has been able to invest tens of millions of more dollars in state park improvements, all to the benefit of our residents. I’m proud to live in a state that values its wild, open spaces and seeks to maintain them for the benefit of all of us, for generations to come.”
“I was delighted to join the Lt. Governor, Commissioner Dykes, and the other stakeholders today to celebrate the State’s investment in our amazing park system,” said State Rep. Holly Cheeseman, R-East Lyme. “Our state parks are a priceless treasure and our continued commitment to them will preserve them for today’s visitors and future generations.”
“We are very fortunate in Connecticut to have some truly incredible and diverse State Parks, including several right here in my home district,” said State Senator Christine Cohen, D-Madison. “With summer officially in full swing, residents can get out and experience everything this great state has to offer, from the beautiful beaches of Hammonasset, to the hiking trails of Chatfield Hollow and so much more – all at no cost through the Passport to the Parks program! Between this innovative program and the recent state investments into our parks, I am grateful for the leadership and partnership of Governor Lamont and Commissioner Dykes and their commitment to preserving our green spaces.”
“Warmer weather brings a renewed interest in being outdoors,” said Andy Bicking, the Executive Director of Connecticut Forest & Park Association. “Fortunately, Connecticut has an exceptional network of parks, beaches, forests and trails to appreciate. Thanks to the Governor’s and General Assembly’s leadership of the Passport to the Parks program, residents of the state can unlock these gems of the state for free. It’s time to get outside, connect with friends, family and community, and enjoy!”
“The numbers don’t lie,” said Christine Koster, President of Friends of Hammonasset and member of the Friends of Connecticut State Parks Board of Directors. “More people are using our state parks than ever before. I meet people all the time who share that they’ve been visiting new parks and forests. All because they can just drive right in with their Connecticut license plate.”
New State Parks T-shirts!
DEEP also announced Friday an exciting new opportunity for residents to show their love for their Connecticut State Parks, unveiling new Parks-themed T-shirts designed by DEEP’s very talented visual media designer, Joe Cunningham. The designs are modeled after the old Works Progress Administration posters advertising various National Parks, elegant in their simplicity and timeless look, and currently enjoying a renewed popularity. Shirts for Hammonasset and Talcott Mountain are currently available, with more Park designs on the way! Any net proceeds from sales of these shirts will go to the Passport fund.
The shirts are available online for $23 in both designs and in multiple colors, at shop.CTParks.com The designs will also be available for purchase as posters in the near future.
Stay tuned for additional park t-shirt designs coming soon by signing up for our newsletter at CTparks.com/love-your-parks!
In the coming weeks we will also be adding a form to our CTParks.com website where you can join in the fun and share your ideas as to what State Park designs you would like to see! We are excited to hear which parks hit the top of the list.
To learn more about the Passport to the Parks program, visit: Passport to the Parks (ct.gov)
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Contact
DEEP Communications
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110