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Friends of Wisconsin State Parks donate $25,000 to support library checkout pass program and other park projects
Summary
The Natural Resources Board acknowledged a $25,000 donation from Friends of Wisconsin State Parks and heard staff describe a library "checkout" day-pass program that aims to broaden access to state parks.
The Natural Resources Board acknowledged a $25,000 donation from the Friends of Wisconsin State Parks to support Wisconsin State Park initiatives and heard department staff describe an existing library "Checkout Wisconsin State Parks" program designed to increase access to parks for families and people with limited resources.
Missy Van Landet, recreation partnership section chief for the Bureau of Park and Recreation, told the board the library checkout program has run for about three years. Libraries can purchase day passes at a bulk rate (the department set the bulk rate at $5 for the current year; staff said that rate will rise to $10 next year) and loan them to patrons. Van Landet said Friends of Wisconsin State Parks and other nonprofits have donated funds to buy passes and provide them to libraries. She said more than 50 libraries participate and roughly 42 counties are covered, although participation fluctuates with local budgets.
Board member Robin Schmidt suggested publicizing the program to increase participation. The board moved and approved acknowledgment of the donation and asked the department to promote the program more widely.
Van Landet said the Friends donated $5,000 for 2025 and another $5,000 for 2026 specifically for the checkout-pass program and that the larger donation will support multiple park programs and outreach.
