Outdoor Recreation Belongs to Everyone
Round up at the register through our Give Change program to support Vermont Parks Forever from July 27 through August 30, 2026.
As few as 30 minutes spent visiting a park can improve a person’s blood pressure, lower their cortisol levels, and improve their resiliency to stress. Still, too many people face challenges in visiting parks and enjoying the benefits they provide.
Vermont Parks Forever (VPF), the nonprofit foundation for Vermont’s 55 state parks, is committed to reducing those barriers and getting more people into and benefiting from Vermont State Parks. Their mission to enhance and protect Vermont’s state parks for everyone includes investing in nature education, improving access through innovative programs, and improving the parks for the benefit of residents and visitors alike.
Over 10 Years of Park Access
Since 2016, VPF has granted day-use passes to organizations throughout Vermont, with their Park Access Fund.
By partnering with organizations across Vermont with established ties to their communities, VPF helps foster families, youth programs, people with developmental disabilities and physical disabilities, BIPOC communities, new Americans, mental health clients, people in recovery, and more.
Last year, VPF piloted an extension of their Park Access initiative; partnering with the Economic Services Division of the Department for Children and Families and the Department of Health’s WIC Program to offer free day-use entry to over 100,000 eligible Vermonters. The pilot was a success and is continuing through 2026.
VPF also continues to address physical barriers to park enjoyment, both by partnering with disability-focused non-profits and by directly funding beach wheelchairs and mobility mats in parks across the state.
In 2025 alone, Vermont Parks Forever funded:
- 14,000 free days in parks to over 60 nonprofit community partners
- 30,000 free days in parks to income-eligible Vermonters
The Park Access Fund is made possible by individual donors as well as through the generosity of these foundations and businesses, including Hunger Mountain Co-op.
Learn more about Park Access work at VermontParksForever.org.
Written by Vermont Parks Forever
