MONTPELIER — Gov. Peter Shumlin recently announced a milestone in Vermont State Parks visitation. So far this year, more than 1 million people have visited state parks. That hasn’t happened in 27 years and has only occurred four other times over the 91-year history of the park system.
“We are all pleased that so many Vermonters and guests are realizing the treasures we have in our wonderful park system,” Gov. Shumlin said. “Outdoor recreation is such an important part of Vermont’s culture and economy and state parks offer a way for all of us to enjoy Vermont’s best.”
The state will receive an estimated $6.1 million in direct revenue from this year’s visitation. The statewide economic impact from those visits is about $88 million.
State park attendance has been growing steadily over the last several years. Commissioner Michael Snyder of the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation attributes the success to a number of factors.
“Our parks program staff do an outstanding job reminding people of the value of the park experience, we have invested wisely in our structures and facilities, and we have an excellent front line staff that offer the outstanding customer service we are known for.”
Vermont has a system of 52 state parks that are fully operated from mid-May through mid-October each year. Although the areas are open and sometimes heavily used during the off season, attendance is only tracked during the operating period. The department expects the trend in park use to continue over the years to come.
For more information about Vermont State Parks visit www.vtstateparks.com.