With the elimination of $5 entry fees at Stafford Lake, park goers can enjoy the serene hiking trails available to them free of charge.
The Marin County Board of Supervisors on June 14 voted to eliminate the $5 entry fee charged at county parks—a move intended to promote greater equity. Free entry for park attendees went into effect July 1.
According to a county press release, the decision was recommended by the county Parks and Open Space Commission and participants in the Parks Equity Roundtable.
Parks Director Max Korten applauded the board’s decision to “remove this longstanding obstacle.”
“It’s about fairness, and now individuals from lower-income backgrounds have the same access to parks as visitors who have enjoy open space preserves for free for decades,” said Korten in the announcement.
The parks affected by the fee change include:
- McNears Beach in eastern San Rafael
- Paradise Beach near Tiburon
- Stafford Lake near Novato
- Black Point Boat Launch near Novato
- Miller Boat Launch on Tomales Bay
McNears and Paradise Beach offer a variety of activities including kayaking and paddleboarding. Visitors can also rent a canoe and cruise on the San Francisco Bay. The parks have spaces for picnicking, kite flying and fishing. Stafford Lake has features such as a disc golf course, hiking trails and an off-road bike park.
The elimination of the admission and parking fees will result in an estimated $397,855 loss in annual revenue. County officials said the balance will be recovered by revenue from reservable group sites, the elimination of other expenses, and funds from Measure A, a countywide quarter-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2022. For more information, visit marincounty.org.
One thought on “County Parks Now Free in Marin”
This page definitely has all of the information I wanted
about this subject and didn’t know who to ask.