Washington County proclaims July 2025 "Park and Recreation Month," waives vehicle permits first non‑holiday Tuesday each month

The Washington County Board of Commissioners on June 17, 2025 adopted a resolution recognizing July 2025 as Park and Recreation Month in the county and set the first non‑holiday Tuesday of each month as a free Tuesday when vehicle permit fees for Washington County parks and trails are waived.

Parks manager JJ Williams told the board that Washington County Parks and Trails manages more than 4,700 acres of public land and more than 100 miles of trails, and is supported by roughly 150 staff. Williams highlighted recent program and attendance figures: the Bluegrass Festival at Lake Elmo Park Reserve drew about 3,500 visitors last year, Christmas at the courthouse attracted about 1,700 attendees, the parks and programs combined had more than 10,000 participants in 2024, and summer day camp enrollment for 2025 was about 2,200 — an 11% increase over 2024.

Williams described equity and access efforts that prompted the board action, including free‑permit days, a program that doubled its redemption rate after an implementation change for households receiving cash assistance, a new action‑track all‑terrain wheelchair available for public use, learn‑to‑kayak classes offered in Spanish in partnership with Wild Rivers Conservancy, and a summer pilot with Washington County Libraries to make one‑week park passes available for checkout at Lake Elmo and Park Grove libraries beginning in July.

The resolution text read into the record cites parks’ health, economic and environmental benefits and endorses the county’s existing practice of designating the first non‑holiday Tuesday of each month as a vehicle‑permit waiver day. Commissioner Bigham moved the resolution and Commissioner Claussen seconded. The measure passed on a 5‑0 roll call.

Commissioners who commented praised the parks division’s outreach and the asserted economic benefits. "I was also really impressed by the economic impact," Commissioner Bigham said, noting testimony in the presentation that proximity to parks can factor into business location choices and home‑value premiums.

The adopted resolution directs county staff to continue communications about the free Tuesday program and the library partnership slated to begin later in July. The parks division will continue to deliver educational programs, ADA access improvements and equity‑focused fee assistance noted in the presentation.

Resolution: Adopted (5‑0).