OHIODNR charging park fees

[chopiq]

http://ohiodnr.com/news/jan05/parkspass/default.htm

ODNR PROPOSES PARKING PASSES
AT OHIO’S 74 STATE PARKS
Parks Pride Pass to help restore and maintain
Ohio’s award-winning park system

PROPOSED
DAILY PASS
per motor vehicle
$5 resident
$6 non-resident
$4 Golden Buckeye
ANNUAL PASS
per motor vehicle
$25 resident*
$30 non-resident
$20 Golden Buckeye
*a second annual pass for residents costs $20

Beginning in May, visitors to Ohio State Parks will be required to display Parks Pride Passes on their motor vehicles, under rules proposed today by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
The rules, filed with the legislature’s Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR), will allow Ohio State Parks to collect $5 for each daily parking pass. An annual pass, good for unlimited park visits for 12 months from the date of purchase, will cost $25. JCARR will have 90 days to review and approve the proposed rules.

[Buckmaster]

Our taxes aren't enough? Its almost like pay-to-play.

[XX78]

the media should get wind of this

[Buckmaster]

Pretty good excuse to keep the kids at home in front of the Playstation or the elderly at home to save that $ 5 based on their dwindling fixed income.

[MUZZY MAN]

[QUOTE]Pretty good excuse to keep the kids at home in front of the Playstation or the elderly at home to save that $ 5 based on their dwindling fixed income.


GOOD point Buckmaster

[M.Magis]

While I don't like it either, it's only fair to post the whole story. I'm sure if anyone has another idea how to support the parks, they'll be more than willing to listen Feb. 12.


Beginning in May, visitors to Ohio State Parks will be required to display Parks Pride Passes on their motor vehicles, under rules proposed today by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
The rules, filed with the legislature’s Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR), will allow Ohio State Parks to collect $5 for each daily parking pass. An annual pass, good for unlimited park visits for 12 months from the date of purchase, will cost $25. JCARR will have 90 days to review and approve the proposed rules.
If the rules are approved, Ohio will become the 45th state to enact a user fee in its park system.
Out-of-state visitors will pay $6 daily or $30 annually per vehicle for a pass, and Golden Buckeye Card holders $4 daily and $20 annually. A majority of monies generated from the sale of passes will be returned to the park where they are collected. The balance will go into a special fund to support day-to-day operations and maintenance in all 74 state parks.“By displaying Parks Pride Passes, visitors will show their personal support for Ohio’s award-winning state park system,” said ODNR Director Sam Speck. “It is their way of saying: ‘We appreciate the value Ohio State Parks offer and we want to help protect, restore and maintain our parks for families today and into the future.’”
Introduction of the Parks Pride Pass marks a milestone in the 56-year history of Ohio State Parks. While general revenue funds and user fees generated from camping, boat dock rentals and concessionaire contracts have traditionally supported the cost of operating the state parks, those sources are no longer sufficient to ensure the standard of excellence for which Ohio State Parks are known, according to Speck.
“Continued reductions will place our wonderful state park heritage at risk and threaten the reputation of our parks as wholesome, family-oriented destinations,” he said.
Faced with increasingly difficult budget challenges and cutbacks in state funding over the last five years, the park system has responded with significant reductions in staffing, maintenance and visitor services. For example, Ohio State Parks employed 607 full-time staff members in 2000, but cut that number to 490 employees in 2004. Only 42 of the system’s 74 parks now have on-site managers.
“In recent years, more and more of the state’s budget has been allocated to Ohio’s other needs. Meanwhile, despite staff reductions and other belt-tightening, the costs associated with maintaining and operating state park facilities have steadily increased.
The Parks Pride Pass will help fill that gap, ensuring that Ohio families will continue to enjoy the level of service they have come to know in their state parks,” Speck said.
Because each of Ohio’s state parks is unique in character and layout, administration of the Parks Pride Pass will vary from facility to facility. At the busiest locations, park staff will have passes available for motorists as they enter designated parking areas.
At less-busy parks and times, motorists will use an “honor system” drop box to obtain a pass. Parking passes will not be necessary for walk-in visitors.

[XX78]

Thanks Mr. Taft. Can u please resign?

[CritterGitter]

I am against this 100%. How much is the fine if I enter a park without a pass. There is the real bread winner for them. They'll load up on that gig! This is a joke. I don't want to hear about budget cuts when state taxes were raised(after Taft said they wouldn't) and our license fees were raised. The parks should fall under one of those categories and if not, then what about all the tax money from guns, ammo and all that which is supposed to go into DNR funds. If this passes I WILL SERIOUSLY consider moving. I love Ohio, born and raised here and lived here all my life, but this would be WRONG!

Pay to play at Ohio's State Parks? What's next, a fee to access a state forest? Maybe they should put tolls on all the roads too!

Stuff like this makes me SICK!!!!!!!!!!

CG

[bowtech777]

I voted on some tax issue this past election concerning the metro parks, it was suppose to help the metro parks out with their cost.

But, I dont think they are included in the hunting and fishing licenses are they?

thats why I thought it wasnt a bad thing, Plus my wife and I spend a lot of time in the metro parks.

But the state land, I know that is covered under the tax on sporting equipment and license sales.

Just another reason for me and my family to leave this money hungry over taxed state.

[JIG]

PA HEAR I COME!

[KillerSquirrel]

Tough issue. Personally, I think that if they do a pay-to-play method then hunters should get a pass with their hunting license purchase. As it was said, we pay taxes on ammo and other equipment and hunting licenses. Maybe those with wildlife, bald eagle, or scenic rivers should get free parking, too. Campers and boaters are also paying fees and they shouldn't have to pay either.

My question is what does the state offer? I am with bowtech on the Metro Parks. I go to the metro parks all the time and they offer great programs for free. I would gladly support them, but the state parks don't offer programs like that.

However, I don't want to see the state parks suffer and start selling off more land. I don't think it would be unreasonable for visitors which are not already paying fees in another way to contribute to the parks they visit. For the person that is going to walk around for a day a fee may not be terrible. Though, for some families, the parks are the only form of entertainment left that doesn't break the bank. How many low-income families will lose the ability to enjoy a day walking the trails because $5.00 lunch money for a week?

I guess I can see both sides of the issue, but ultimately, I don't want to pay anymore out of my pocket.

[CritterGitter]

What about camping fees. Try to get a camp spot at any campground for a holiday weekend on a Friday evening. It can't be done! So, hike the camping fees. I don't know, but don't charge an access fee. That is just absurd! I am going to make my voice heard on this one and I hope others do as well.

CG

[muskyman]

I have a hard time understanding how public land isnt becoming
private, if you have to pay to use it.

[Links r Us]

Originally posted by Buckmaster
Our taxes aren't enough? Its almost like pay-to-play.

No their aren't enough $$s & Yes, you should pay to play :)

The Hunters & Fishermen should not be the ones to foot the bill, but rather everyone that uses the "state park system".... heck on another note, I have to pay for all fees that everyone else does to fish & hunt, while also chippin' in 50 bucks a year for IL lake use & maintance while everyone that comes to the lake uses it for free for day use & only have to pay for campin' ... come-on now, this sounds fair to me & most other states have been this way for many years ... 40 years ago when I was in my 20s I paid use-fees in Michigan ... :)

[XX78]

This thread should be sticky

[CritterGitter]

I will try this and it should post links to articles from ODNR site. Every article is from 2004 and somehow involves money and the ODNR. I am not saying these things are bad at all. Many of these articles are great and show the ODNR does great things with their money. Skim or read all of these articles and then tell me how excited you are to pay for a park access fee. It is simply absurd. Someone said it wouldn't be so bad if the fishing or hunting license works as a pass. I would be ok with that. However, to charge everyone an access pass is ridiculous.

Here are some ODNR links about money:

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/news/nov04/1103watershedgrant.htm

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/news/nov04/1103grantsouthwest.htm

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/news/nov04/1108recycling.htm

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/news/nov04/1109recycling.htm

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/news/oct04/1002westbranch.htm

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/news/oct04/1004overnightparks.htm

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/news/sep04/0909coastalgrants.htm

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/news/jul04/0715cleanvessel.htm

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/news/jun04/0628deanclean.htm

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/news/jun04/0609eharbor.htm

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/news/may04/0519cmagrants.htm

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/news/may04/0505tiregrants.htm

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/news/apr04/0416marinegrants.htm

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/news/apr04/0415hhwelcomectr.htm

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/news/mar04/0324wildlifegrants.htm

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/news/mar04/0317watergrants.htm

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/news/feb04/0223mohicanrenov.htm

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/news/feb04/0211boataccess.htm

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/news/jan04/0127natureworks.htm


CG

[Dinky]

You know and I know you are NOT going to leave the state over this. There is a way to defeat this. Its called calling your representitive. This news is over a week old and I have contacted all of my state reps .and have voiced my concerns. All of them from my area have been bombarded from sporstmen in our area and they are against it. Do a google search"State Of Ohio and it will give you their website. There you can click on to find your reps. and you can e-mail them right from the site.
Accross the board increases in hunting-fishing-trapping lic.,deer permits,turkey permits was'nt enough money for them,now they are going to hit us again.
I know the bulk of you guys have NICE state parks where you live (Salt fork) is one,but up here in NE Ohio the parks are really lame,so where the hell to they get "AWARD WINNING"?
The ODNR gives alot of money away in foolish grants such as buying $300.00 picnic tables made out of re-cycled material,school yard wildlife sanctuaries and all kinds of other stuff that is totally rediculous and they want us to pay for it. How about during deer season every game warden just happens to have a ATV,how bout all the new 4WD trucks. I can go on and on,but all it does is get me further worked up,so I'll shut up now.

[XX78]

Originally posted by XX78
This thread should be sticky well?

[CritterGitter]

Well, of course I am not leaving this state! Since this is in the forefront of the news once again and it is official(as if we didnt already know that) I will voice my opinion on it again.

This is now pretty much set as a new law/regulation. It is here to stay and we all now have to deal with it. Dang it, that was difficult to say. Ok, so now what do we do? For sure this will have a ripple affect to a lot of areas. This is not just about about hunters, but I will get to that shortly. Families might not go to parks now. In my estimation that hurts family values and diminishes our culture and society. Oh sure, TV will rot their minds, but if cable costs were $200 a month then every person in this country would find a way to pay for it. I know it is absurd, but this is how our culture now values things.

Inidividuals who enjoy walking the dog, jogging, bird watching or just enjoying the sun on a bench will likely venture to a metro park or other recreational area. Therefore, those areas will become more crowded. Good luck getting a picnic pavilion at a metro park on Memorial day weekend.

As for fishing it certainly changes the landscape of this outdoor pusuit as well. Since many will not pay to access the public fishing areas within the parks the areas outside of parks will get more people and pressure placed on them. Thus, some may not want to pay the park fee and may not want to keep looking for a good spot so they may abandon the activity altogether. This again hurts our sport!

The hunting ramifications are significant. Many won't pay to access the parks. Therefore, the limited public land opportunities become even more limited. A guy might go a full week on the Wayne or another federal forest land instead of hunting here and there in the nearby state park. I would presume the state parks will receive less pressure and the federal forest areas and such will receive more pressure and people.

I haven't even considered the enforcement of this regulation. I would guess there is a hefty fine for non-compliance and that is even more money for the state.

A lot of what I am sharing here is presumptive and subjective. I openly admit that. However, the point that I am trying to make is that this will have a ripple affect in all of our outdoor pursuits. I heard on a news story today that Ohio is one of the last states to do this(so much for being a leader among the states).

This really bothers me and some may see this as babbling, but I just wanted to express my thoughts. I first thought about boycotting and putting out that message as publicly as possible, but then I realized just how futile that would be. This is here and stay and nothing I or anyone else does can stop or change it. If they get just 1 person to pay that ridiculous fee then it is more money then they ever got before!

I guess we just have to accept it and move on.

CG

[rjolenic]

What's $25? I'll contribute! The money trees will be producing this year in my backyard. :D

Ray

[MUZZY MAN]

Points well made CG.