Washington Co., WI – The temporary suspension of enforcement of Washington County park fees will be lifted Friday, May 1, 2020. This is the same date the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will reopen 34 state parks and forests.
While the state is requiring annual park passes, the county will continue to sell daily or annual passes.
Annual passes are $30 for Washington County residents and $40 for non-residents and $20 for senior citizens and veterans. A daily pass is $5.
“When the enforcement of park fees was suspended, the county went to an honor system,” said Washington County Public Affairs Coordinator Ethan Hollenberger. “Annual and daily park fees were paid by citizens and visitors and refunds will generally not be offered. We have not received any requests, likely because park users are seeing their fees used appropriately.”
Hollenberger said the park fees are reinvested into the parks to help with maintenance and development.
“The parks system will see a new dog park at Sandy Knoll, new piers at two parks, upgrades to the Homestead Howl Dog Park, improvements to disc golf, and other projects,” he said. “These investments are not taxpayer funded; they are user funded.”
Photos courtesy Washington County Parks