The outdoors are for everyone.
That's why our Parks Access Fund grants free park passes to thousands of Vermonters each year.
Proudly serving every VT county.
Every year since 2016, Vermont Parks Forever (VPF) has granted passes to organizations working state wide. Through these organizations, VPF helps foster families, youth programs, front-line workers, those with developmental disabilities, BIPOC communities, new Americans, mental health clients, and those with limited mobility, have more opportunities to experience all Vermont’s state parks have to offer.
Are you an organization serving Vermonters facing barriers to outdoor experiences?
Then we want to meet you!
Become a Grantee
Grant applications for 2024 Park Access Fund Grant are being accepted on a rolling basis.
Organizations may apply online.
The Parks Access Fund:
provided
10,000+
free state park visits in 2023
to Vermonters who are underrepresented in the outdoors.
worked with
41
community organizations in 2023
with recipients in
every Vermont County
celebrated
7
years or Park Access
programming in 2023
increased funding by
100%
since 2016 thanks to our
generous donors
2023 Park Access Grantees
Beckley Day School of WCMHS*
Boys and Girls Club of Brattleboro*
Boys and Girls Club of Rutland County
Boys and Girls Club of Vergennes
Central Vermont Families & Friends United*
Champlain Community Services
Clara Martin Center
Clarina Howard Nichols Center
Come Alive Outside*
EDD Adaptive Sports*
Experience Literacy
Lamoille County Mental Health*
Laraway Backpack Program
MENTOR Vermont*
NCSS, Inc - School Based Autism Program
North Branch Nature Center
Northeast Disabled Athletic Association
Outdoor Asian VT*
Outdoor Family Weekend through UVM Extension
Outdoor Gear Exchange BIPOC Clinics
Parent Child Center of NCSS
Recovery Vermont*
Reach Up*
Sara Holbrook Community Center
Spectrum
Springfield Area Parent Child Center*
The Janet S Munt Family Room*
The Rainbow Bridge Community Center*
Turning Point Recovery Center of Bennington*
Turning Point Recovery Center of Springfield
Unlikely Riders
United Way, Working Bridges
Vermont Achievement Center, Sheldon Academy*
Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports
Vermont Department for Children and Families
Vermont Family Network*
Vermont Releaf
VT Social Adventure Group*
Washington County Mental Health*
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program*
*new partner in 2023
Thank you to our generous donors!
BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont
Cashdan/Stein Great Grandmother Fund of Vermont Community Foundation
Chroma Technology
Common Deer
Mascoma Bank
New England Federal Credit Union
NorthCountry Federal Credit Union
SCHIP
The Alchemist
The Charles P. Ferro Foundation
The Road West Traveled, LLC
Timber & Stone, LLC
Ursa Major Natural Care
VELCO
Vermont Electric Cooperative
Vermont Mutual Insurance
Vermont-NEA
Vermont Parks Forever Supporters
Vermont Parks Forever Board and Staff Members
Adaptive Beach Access
The Park Access Fund is getting people into the state parks, and the new Beach Access Initiative will get more people into the water! With the help of generous donors, Vermont Parks Forever will purchase four new beach access wheelchairs for use in Vermont's state parks. When a beach access wheelchair is available for visitors, the benefits are clear: more people are able to experience the mental and physical health improvements gained by spending time in nature.
Thank you to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation and the Northeast Kingdom Fund at the Vermont Community Foundation for funding beach access wheelchairs in 2024!
