July 10, 2017 – West Bend, WI – Neighbors across Washington County are starting to see these signs at entrances to county parks.
The signs remind county park visitors that entrance fees will be increasing in 2018. Last month, the Washington County Board approved the Parks Fiscal Sustainability Plan.
The plan aims to operate County Parks and Trails independent of the Property Tax Levy and sets course to achieve this over the next three years in order to maintain and improve parks for current and future generations of park users.
A major component of the plan includes new user fees in 2018 – daily entrance fees or annual park entrance stickers for County Parks to include the following parks: Glacier Hills Park, Ackerman’s Grove Park, Heritage Trails Park, Sandy Knoll Park, Leonard J. Yahr Park, and Homestead Hollow Park.
Eisenbahn Trail users will be encouraged to support the parks and trails by purchasing annual stickers.
However, the fee is planned to be assessed per vehicle entering the parks and no charge will be enforced for walkers, ATVs, snowmobiles or bikers at this time.
“We’re still hopeful that these user groups will support our system by purchasing the stickers,” Ludovic added.
Fee prices will be authorized as part of the County’s 2018 budget but are being recommended as follows:
Washington County Planning and Parks Department Public Agency Center – 333 East Washington St., Suite 2300, PO Box 2003, West Bend, WI
The Parks Division is actively pursuing partnerships and sponsorships for existing and future park projects and amenities. Below are just a few of the new amenities underway. Other possibilities like beer gardens, campgrounds, and improved lake access opportunities are under discussions and being explored.
$2.00 more than the State parks? Is the county insane? The parks are nice but they sure aren’t that nice! Good thing we can just park on the road or ride our bikes in to avoid the ridiculous cost. Glad they gave Ridge Run to the city.