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ITD helps solve challenge to market state parks passes

Sometimes satisfaction comes not from doing the impossible, but the difficult – such as recent collaboration involving ITD and the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.

Legislation approved last spring provides Idahoans with a simple way of obtaining access to Idaho parks at reduced rates by purchasing passes when registering or re-registering their vehicle. The new strategy is designed to help state parks move toward self-sufficiency.

To promote the new program, IDPR turned to Amy Smith and her staff in the Division of Motor Vehicles. Would it be possible, they wondered, to make the discounted park passes available as gifts, perhaps holiday stocking stuffers, or sell coupons for the passes?

A challenging idea, to be sure. Smith concluded the stocking-stuffer concept was the easier of the two proposals to achieve and began working internally to make it happen.

“ … we have had some time to think about both the stocking-stuffer idea and the coupon idea,” Smith reported to IDPR Director Nancy Merrill. “We are pleased to say that we can definitely work the stocking-stuffer idea out, but will need some basic information from the purchaser, i.e. registrant’s name and plate number.”

The proposal to sell coupons for the discounted park passes will be a more complicated challenge.

Merrill was so impressed with ITD’s quick response, she sent a flower arrancement to Smith as a way of saying thanks.

“I don’t think I can remember ever working with another agency that has been so gracious in trying to meet our obstacles,” she wrote to Smith. “You and your staff are amazing. It has been quite an education for us, yet you always try to find a positive solution. Your professionalism is to be admired. You and your staff are greatly appreciated by all of us here at IDPR.”

Smith said the process required changes to the computer mainframe, Data Point services to county offices, collaboration with Access Idaho and changes to renewal cards that are mailed to vehicle owners. The planning process took nearly a year to complete before legislative approval, and about seven additional months since it was signed into law.

The program enables Idaho motorists to pay an additional $10 when registering or re-registering their vehicles for one year. Those who opt for a two-year vehicle license can purchase a two-year park pass for $20. ITD collects the park passport fees and transfers them monthly to the state parks account.

For their investment, Idaho drivers receive a window decal that allows access to any state park and its facilities for day use and free boat launching. The passport also includes discounted prices for overnight camping.

The state parks passports cost $40 per year if purchased separately.

Sale of the park passes in conjunction with vehicle registrations began Oct. 1. In the first week of the combined sales, more than 4,000 passports were sold.

The successful launch demonstrates how two state agencies – ITD and IDPR – collaborated to more efficiently serve Idahoans; it also supports the department’s Strategic Plan goal of improving customer service.