New Program Lets Hoosiers Check-out State Parks

INDIANAPOLIS - A new program that’s running this year will let library patrons check out Indiana State Parks for free. The State Park Centennial Annual Pass Library Check-out program provides 240 park entrance passes, one for every library in Indiana. 

Starting January 1, Hoosiers with a library card can check-out a free pass just like a book.  It will be up to the library to decide when the pass needs to be returned.

Ryan Brown, director of communications for the Indiana State Library says the idea to pair books and trees came naturally.

"It was a cool idea because DNR was trying to find a way to reach out to more people and try and give them a way to check out the parks for free and it just made sense to go through the library system."  Said Brown.

The $12,000 program is being funded by the Indiana State Parks and the Indiana State Library as a way to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the parks system.  

The goal is to open the gates for people who may have never visited one of Indiana’s 32 state parks or recreation areas.