The Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to provide an annual San Mateo County parks pass to low-income individuals and families.
The 5-0 vote will ensure that all residents, regardless of means, have access to all county parks.
"All San Mateo County residents deserve the opportunity to enjoy our wonderful parks, regardless of income," said Board Chairman Don Horsley. “The benefits of parks and just being outdoors are well known. Time in nature is healing and contributes to overall health and well-being."
The measure opens up the county's 16,000 acres of parkland, more than the cities of San Mateo and Daly City combined, to individuals and families who are eligible for certain economic self-sufficiency programs. These include CalFresh, health insurance coverage, and similar programs.
While the county is home to expensive real estate and high-paying tech jobs and other careers, one in five people, or more than 150,000 people, will be eligible for a free annual pass from Parks under what's called the Mariposa Program. Supervisors said the unanimous vote is part of a broader package of actions to improve equitable access to all county programs and services.
"The real beneficiaries will be the young people who will be able to enjoy our parks that offer so many adventures and fun activities," said supervisor Carole Groom. "Our goal is to prepare them for a lifetime of outdoor experiences."
The San Mateo County Human Services Agency will collaborate with County Parks to enroll those who meet the eligibility criteria for qualifying programs and want a pass.
Those interested in learning more about self-sufficiency programs in San Mateo County can visit the website https://www.smcgov.org/hsa/public-assistance-programs.
Notably, during the same Board meeting, they voted 5-0 to increase the cost of an annual pass from $60 to $72. The price increase, equal to two additional park visits per year—parking fees per day are $6 per vehicle—will help offset the cost of the Mariposa Program and provide new funding for youth programs.
The fee increase for a park pass would take effect from January 2023.
The Board also voted to "streamline" its self-proclaimed camping fees at Memorial County Park and develop separate fees for residents and non-residents.
In the future, camping in tents will cost $40 for residents and $45 for those who do not live in the area, while camping in RVs will cost $45 for residents and $50 for non-residents. The new camping fees would apply to the 2023 season beginning in May.
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