Island Beach State Park in Lanoka Harbor.
TRENTON New Jersey will be the first state in the nation to sell annual state parks passes through a public lands pass website, giving visitors the opportunity to save gas, time and money by avoiding daily walk-in costs and parking fees, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe announced recently.
The online purchase program through YourPassNow takes effect on Monday, April 1 and stems from an existing partnership between the DEP's Division of Parks and Forestry and the New Jersey Division of NICUSA Inc. YourPassNow is a digital marketplace that makes it easy and convenient for visitors to purchase online electronic passes, permits and tickets to public lands.
This partnership benefits the public in a variety of ways and is another example of New Jersey's environmental leadership on a national level, McCabe said. Instead of driving to a park office to buy an annual pass or mailing an application, visitors can order an annual state parks decal online at their convenience and affix it to their vehicle's windshield. Using this method will allow visitors to save transportation time and costs and help reduce fuel emissions.
YourPassNow.com offers online purchase of passes to approximately 22 federal and state sites, most of which are in the western half of the United States. With New Jersey's entry into the program, residents and non-residents have the option to buy a decal to affix to their vehicle's windshield that will provide entrance for one calendar year to state parks, forests and historic sites. Fees vary, and a $3 per-pass surcharge will apply to every purchase.
We hope to attract more state park pass holders who enjoy our forests, beaches, historic sites and the 1,000 miles of trails in the state park system, Parks and Forestry Director Olivia Glenn said.
Visitors can order one or more passes, including discounted household passes, for other members of their household, or as gifts for family and friends.
The State Park Service includes 47 state parks, forests, recreation areas, battlefields and marinas. Camping is available at 19 sites ranging from Brendan T. Byrne State Forest in the Pinelands to Stokes State Forest near the Delaware Water Gap to Parvin State Park in Salem County.
For a list of fees and to purchase an annual pass to New Jersey's Parks, Forests and Historic Sites, visit yourpassnow.com/parkpass.
To learn more about New Jersey's Parks, Forests and Historic Sites, visit www.njparksandforests.org. Like the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/newjerseystateparks. Follow the New Jersey State Park Service on Instagram @newjerseystateparks.
