Letter to the Editor: Utah state parks pass fees are getting out of control

Hikers on the Petrified Sand Dunes trail in Snow Canyon State Park, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Utah State Parks, St. George News

OPINION — The following is a letter that I emailed state Rep R. Neil Walter and state Sen. Don Ipson. It is in regard to the tremendous increases in our Utah state parks annual pass fees.

I am writing this letter to you to express my concern and disappointment in the constant increases in the Utah state parks access fees. I moved here to Southern Utah in 2015 hoping for a better way of life by escaping the oppressive taxation and other out-of-control policies of the state of California.

I am a homeowner here in the beautiful city of Ivins. When I arrived here, the Utah state park annual pass fees were $60 for a 12-month pass, not based on a calendar year. For instance, if I purchased the pass June 1, it would expire the following year, May 31.

The cost of the pass has seen several changes since. It has seen increases to $100 for the same pass as previously described, and now I have become aware that the cost of the pass is $125.00 for an annual calendar year pass, which expires on December 31 no matter which month it was purchased (no proration)!

These increases in fees have taken away the ability of many of our own residents of Utah from exploring the beauty of our own back yards.

I would respectfully and humbly ask you and your office to examine this issue on the behalf of us, your constituents here in Southern Utah. I love this place, I retired here, it is my home now, and I would really like to love it even more.

Please help. Please find a way to get us back to a reasonable dollar amount fee and 12-month or prorated system.

Submitted by DANIEL FOSTER, Ivins.

Letters to the Editor are not the product of St. George News, its editors, staff or news contributors. The matters stated and opinions given are the responsibility of the person submitting them. They do not reflect the product or opinion of St. George News and are given only light edit for technical style and formatting.

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