MONTPELIER,VT — Vermont Parks Forever is excited to announce its Park Access Fund Grant Application is open for 2023. Since 2016, Vermont Parks Forever has granted over $50,000 to cover park entry fees and help create a more equitable outdoor experience throughout the state. This year, the Park Access Fund will again provide over 5,000 free days in the parks to community partners across Vermont.
Organizations serving Vermonters facing barriers to outdoor experiences can apply for a Park Access Grant at vermontparksforever.org/park-access-fund. The deadline for this short application is April 3, 2023.
“The Park Access Fund breaks down barriers for Vermonters who otherwise might not have the chance to experience all that Vermont State Parks have to offer. The Fund helps foster families, youth programs, front-line workers, those with developmental disabilities, BIPOC communities, new Americans, mental health clients, and those with limited mobility, among others, to enjoy all the benefits that come with time spent in the parks,” says Vermont Parks Forever’s Executive Director, Sarah Alberghini Winters. She added, “We are grateful for the good work our community partners do throughout Vermont and commend their efforts to integrate visits to the state parks into their programming.”
2022 grantees included the following community partners serving all 14 counties of Vermont:
Boys and Girls Club of Greater Vergennes Boys and Girls Club of Rutland County Champlain Community Services Clara Martin Center Clarina Howard Nichols Center The DREAM Program, Inc. Experience Literacy Camp at Mt. Anthony Union Middle School G.R.I.T.S. Howard Center King Street Center Laraway Youth and Family Services Lund Family Center Milton Community Youth Coalition Northeast Disabled Athletic Association Northwest Counseling and Support Services, Inc Outdoor Family Weekend through UVM Extension
Powered Magazine Sarah Holbrook Community Center Spectrum Youth and Family Services Turning Point Recovery Center United Way, Working Bridges Unlikely Riders Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports Vermont Department for Children and Families Vermont Kin as Parents Vermont Professionals of Color Network To read more about the impact the 2022 Park Access Fund had for Vermonters, visit: vermontparksforever.org/park-access-2022.
Vermont Parks Forever extends a special thank you to the following donors for their commitment to this important program over the past 6 years:
The Alchemist BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont Cashdan/Stein Great Grandmother Fund of the Vermont Community Foundation Charles P. Ferro Foundation Common Deer New England Federal Credit Union NorthCountry Federal Credit Union Outdoor Gear Exchange SCHIP
Vermont Mutual Insurance
Vermont-NEA
To see the full list of generous donors to the Park Access Fund or to contribute, visit: vermontparksforever.org/park-access-fund.
About Vermont Parks Forever: Vermont Parks Forever, the nonprofit foundation for Vermont’s 55 state parks, was founded in 2013 to enhance and protect Vermont’s state parks by inspiring stewardship of natural places, providing educational experiences, and improving access for those who would otherwise be unable to experience all the benefits state parks have to offer. Learn more at vermontparksforever.org.
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Media Contact: Sarah Alberghini Winters
Executive Director, Vermont Parks Forever
info@vermontparksforever.org
(802) 917-1719
