The outdoors are for everyone.
That's why our Parks Access Fund grants free park passes to thousands of Vermonters each year.
Proudly serving every VT county.
Every year since 2016, Vermont Parks Forever (VPF) has granted passes to organizations working state wide. Through these organizations, VPF helps foster families, youth programs, those with developmental disabilities, BIPOC communities, new Americans, mental health clients, and those with limited mobility, have more opportunities to experience all Vermont’s state parks have to offer.
Grants have been distributed to organizations for 2026. Please use the link in the text at the right to be notified for application in 2027.
Grant Applications
The Park Access Fund is not currently accepting applications. If you work for an organization that serves Vermonter underrepresented in the outdoors, please email us to be added to the notification list for the next round of grants in 2027.
If you are an individual, please visit our Park Access Fund Pilot page to learn about our expansion granting free days in the state parks to income-eligible Vermonters.
The Parks Access Fund:
provided
44,000+
free state park visits in 2025
to Vermonters who are underrepresented in the outdoors.
worked with
60
grantee organizations in 2025
with recipients in
every Vermont County
celebrates
11
years of Park Access
programming in 2026
increased days granted by
4,250%
since 2016 thanks to our
generous donors
2026 Park Access Grantees
Age Well
Bennington County Court Diversion Program Inc. (Center for Restorative Justice)
Boys and Girls Club of Brattleboro
Boys and Girls Club of Rutland County
Champlain Community Services (CCS)
Clara Martin Center
Community Care Network
Come Alive Outside
Counseling Service of Addison County, Inc (CSAC)
Divided Sky Foundation
East Meadow School
Health Care & Rehabilitation Services
Howard Center
Interaction
Kindle Farm School (HCRS)
Lamoille County Mental Health Services
Laraway Youth and Family Services
Mary Johnson Children's Center - School Age Program
MENTOR Vermont
Milton Family Community Center
NCSS Academy of Learning
Neighborhood Connections
NFI Turning Points
NFI Vermont
Northeast Disabled Athletic Association
Northeast Kingdom Learning ServicesNorthwestern Counseling & Support Services, Inc.
Orange County Restorative Justice Center
Riverflow Community
Rutland County Parent Child Center
Spectrum Youth & Family Services
Springfield Area Parent Child Center
State of VT - DMH - River Valley Therapeutic Residence
Sunrise Family Resource Center
The Collaborative
The Dream Program
The Family Place
The Janet S. Munt Family Room
Turning Point of Franklin county
Unlikely Riders
Upper Valley Services
Vermont Achievement Center, Sheldon Academy
Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports
Vermont Adult Learning Inc.
Vermont Center for Independent Living
Vermont Department for Children and Families
Vermont Kin As Parents
Vermont Mountain Bike Association
Vermont Works for Women
VNA and Hospice of the Southwest Region
VT Cardiac Kids Inc
Windsor County Mentors
Windsor County Youth Services
Working Bridges - Green Mountain United Way and United Way of Northwest Vermont
Find Your Nearest Community Partner
Operating Throughout the State of Vermont Divided Sky Foundation East Meadow School MENTOR Vermont River Valley Therapeutic Residence Riverflow Community State of VT - DMH - River Valley Therapeutic Residence The Dream Program Unlikely Riders Vemront Adaptive Ski and Sports Vermont Achievement Center, Sheldon Academy Vermont Center for Independent Living Vermont Department for Children and Families Vermont Kin As Parents Vermont Mountain Bike Association Vermont Works for Women VT Cardiac Kids Windsor County Youth Services
Addison County Age Well Community Care Network Counseling Services of Addison County Mary Johnson Children's Center - School Age Program Vermont Adult Learning Inc.
Lamoille County Lamoille County Mental Health Services Laraway Youth and Family Services NFI Vermont Northeast Disabled Athletic Association United Way of Northwest VT
Bennington County Bennington County Court Diversion Program Inc. (Center for Restorative Justice) Community Care Network Kindle Farm School (HCRS) Neighborhood Connections Sunrise Family Resource Center The Collaborative
Orange County Clara Martin Center Mountain Communities Supporting Education, dba The Collaborative Orange County Restorative Justice Center The Family Place United Way of Northwest VT Upper Valley Services
Caledonia County Laraway Youth and Family Services NFI Vermont Northeast Kingdom Learning Services United Way of Northwest VT
Orleans County Laraway Youth and Family Services NFI Turning Points Northeast Kingdom Learning Services United Way of Northwest VT
Chittenden County Age Well Champlain Community Services (CCS) Howard Center Laraway Youth and Family Services Milton Family Community Center Northeast Disabled Athletic Association Spectrum Youth & Family Services The Janet S. Munt Family Room Turning Point of Franklin county United Way of Northwest VT Vermont Adult Learning Inc.
Rutland County Boys and Girls Club of Rutland County Come Alive Outside Community Care Network Kindle Farm School (HCRS) Neighborhood Connections Rutland County Parent Child Center Vermont Adult Learning Inc.
Essex County NFI Turning Points NFI Vermont Northeast Kingdom Learning Services United Way of Northwest VT
Washington County Come Alive Outside Laraway Youth and Family Services NFI Vermont Northeast Disabled Athletic Association United Way of Northwest VT Upper Valley Services
Franklin County Age Well Champlain Community Services (CCS) Howard Center Laraway Youth and Family Services Milton Family Community Center NCSS Academy of Learning Northeast Disabled Athletic Association Northwestern Counseling & Support Services, Inc. Spectrum Youth & Family Services Turning Point of Franklin county United Way of Northwest VT Vermont Adult Learning Inc.
Windham County Boys and Girls Club of Brattleboro Health Care & Rehabilitation Services Interaction Kindle Farm School (HCRS) Mountain Communities Supporting Education, dba The Collaborative Neighborhood Connections Springfield Area Parent Child Center Vermont Adult Learning Inc.
Grand Isle County Age Well Champlain Community Services (CCS) Milton Family Community Center NCSS Academy of Learning Northeast Disabled Athletic Association Northwestern Counseling & Support Services, Inc. Spectrum Youth & Family Services Turning Point of Franklin county United Way of Northwest VT Vermont Adult Learning Inc.
Windsor County Clara Martin Center Health Care & Rehabilitation Services Kindle Farm School (HCRS) Mountain Communities Supporting Education, dba The Collaborative Neighborhood Connections Springfield Area Parent Child Center The Family Place Vermont Adult Learning Inc. Windsor County Mentors Windsor County Youth Services
Thank you to our generous donors!
BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont
Cashdan/Stein Great Grandmother Fund of Vermont Community Foundation
Chroma Technology
Common Deer
EastRise Credit Union
Mascoma Bank
NorthCountry Federal Credit Union
Northfield Savings Bank
Price Chopper's Golub Foundation
SCHIP
The Alchemist
The Charles P. Ferro Foundation
The Road West Traveled, LLC
Timber & Stone, LLC
Ursa Major Natural Care
VELCO
Vermont Electric Cooperative
Vermont Mutual Insurance
Vermont-NEA
Vermont Parks Forever Supporters
Vermont Parks Forever Board and Staff Members
Adaptive Beach Access
The Park Access Fund is getting people into the state parks, and the new Beach Access Initiative will get more people into the water! With the help of generous donors, Vermont Parks Forever purchased four new beach access wheelchairs for use in Vermont's state parks in 2024. When a beach access wheelchair is available for visitors, the benefits are clear: more people are able to experience the mental and physical health improvements gained by spending time in nature.
