The Park Access Pilot is Back!

Thanks to overwhelmingly positive results from year one, we're bringing back our park access pilot for year TWO, and again welcoming more than 100,000 income-eligible Vermonters to Vermont State Parks.

Vermonters receiving services through the Economic Services Division of the Department for Children and Families and the Department of Health's WIC Program will have unlimited free day-use entry to the state parks.

Eligible Vermonters include those enrolled in:

• ​3SquaresVT

• Essential Person Program

• Fuel Assistance

• General Assistance

• Reach Up

• Summer EBT

• WIC

Learn more about eligibility and program details at our Park Access Pilot Page.

A Win for Vermonters, and for Vermont

In 2026 over 30,000 free visits were recorded, but most importantly: the Pilot benefited people who were otherwise unlikely to visit the parks. Of people surveyed, 75% reported they wouldn't have visited otherwise, and over 99% of surveyed participants plan to use the program again.

It’s worth noting that not only do program participants benefit from free unlimited park visits, our communities benefit collectively as well.

“Promoting equitable access to nature can lead to meaningful health improvements, monetary cost savings, and stronger communities” -- From “Nature’s Wealth: Quantifying Benefits of Nature Exposure and Promoting Equitable Access Through Policy”

Also worth noting: This pilot is privately funded through an expansion of Vermont Park Forever's existing Park Access Fund and is the first of its kind in the nation. It’s Vermont-grown, Vermont-focused, and Vermont-led.

Learn more about the pilot program, and the larger park access program.

Thank you to Tuck Community Consulting, The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College for conducting and analyzing research specific to the Park Access Pilot Program. Project Lead: Elizabeth Massman, and Team Members: Clayton Hudak, Brian Kim, and Jared Schell.

Thank you also to Scott Brown for his ongoing support of the Pilot Program, and to all of the individuals, businesses, and foundations who continue to make this work possible.