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Fee for state parks makes sense

Beyond any doubt, the best way to “wow” out-of-state visitors to West Virginia is to take them to one or more of our state parks. They are our crown jewels.

But too often for many years, maintenance needs at the parks have been put on hold because not enough money was available for them in the state budget. Unfortunately, that sometimes is evident to park visitors.

To their credit, state legislators and governors have been including money in a State Park Improvement Fund for the past few years. But it totals only $5 million a year and of that, about half is set aside for current operations rather than repairs and improvements.

Money in the budget does not go far when distributed among the 45 state parks and forests included in the system. It works out to something less than $60,000 per year, per area.

On Monday, the state Division of Natural Resources, which operates the parks and forests, announced a plan to charge entrance fees to seven areas. They are Coopers Rock State Forest near Morgantown, Blackwater Falls State Park, Babcock State Park, Cacapon State Park, Little Beaver State Park, Pipestem State Park and Valley Falls State Park.

Entrance fees will be $2 per vehicle entering those areas, or $12 for annual passes covering all the parks. DNR officials hope to raise $1.1 million a year through the fees, with money collected to be used for repairs and improvements.

For most of the history of our state parks and other recreation areas, entrance to nearly all of them was free. Some complaints about the new fee system are to be expected.

But $2 is not much. It is less than the cost of a gallon of gasoline. Anyone financially able to get to one of the affected areas should not find another $2 to be prohibitive. And, it should be noted, there will be some exemptions. They include school groups and overnight guests in the parks.

Would it be nice to keep the parks free, as in the past? Of course. But if they are to be maintained adequately, more money for repairs and improvements is needed. It only makes sense for those who use the parks to help pay for that.

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