Letter: Discover Pass discourages visitors

I recently visited Beacon Rock State Park to hike Hamilton Mountain. I knew there was a user fee, but it shocked me to find it was $10 per day.

Is Washington state doing everything it can to discourage people from using their state parks?

Most of us would say there is a way out, and that is to buy an annual pass for $30. But that’s a lot to pay for many families, especially in the tough economic times we’re in.

There’s another gotcha to Washington’s fee program that’s hidden: The pass is licensed to only one vehicle by the plate number. This creates a mess for carpoolers and recreation clubs, who in the past often shared passes for carpooling to the park. In most cases, that’s now impossible.

I am concerned that walling off nature so only the wealthy can afford it is a good way to make it irrelevant to the public.

It sends a message that parks don’t matter. Given Washington’s rubber-stamping of wind-power projects with too little consideration given to their impact, I’m not surprised to see them now make a family pay $10 to visit a park for a picnic.

Wake up, Washington; nature is important.

Chris Carvalho

Aloha, Ore.