OLYMPIA, Wash.–Washington State Employees Credit Union has announced an expanded partnership with the state of Washington and its park system.
The partnership expands support for the “Check Out Washington” program, an interagency initiative that allows local library card holders to check out adventure packs, including special Discover Passes, for a week at a time, “making Washington State’s renowned state park system accessible to more residents. The expansion prioritizes communities where health disparity data indicate higher need for free access to recreation opportunities,” the credit union said. “This is a great opportunity for us to invest in the communities we serve and aligns perfectly with our giving priorities of supporting public employees and public assets,” said WSECU VP-Public Relations Ann Flannigan. “The nature of this program and how broadly it reaches residents across Washington, and WSECU members by extension, felt like a natural fit to us.”
According to the credit union, the Washington State Parks Foundation secured the sponsorship from WSECU and is a longtime community partner of the institution. The credit union’s investment funds the purchase of 400 additional Discover Passes and the creation of special adventure packs, WSECU said.
What’s Included
The packs include materials selected to enhance the experience of parks visitors, including a Discover Pass, which provides users free parking, educational materials, and a set of three guides about Washington trees, wildlife and birds.
According to the $4-billioin WSECU, Check Out Washington began as a pilot in 2019 with a limited number of parks passes and participating libraries. Its popularity with patrons often meant borrowers had to remain on wait lists for a long time to wait their turn, the CU added.
“Ever since I first heard about the pilot program, I knew it was something we wanted to be a part of,” said Flannigan. “We’re the credit union for Washington, and there is no better symbol of our state than the incredible state parks system. But we want everyone to be able to enjoy them without financial barriers and now more residents will be able to.”
‘Triples the Capacity’
“Adding the new passes triples the capacity of the Check Out Washington program, prioritizing locations where it is needed most,” WSECU added. “The Foundation, WSECU, Washington State Library and the Office of the Secretary of State prioritize several rural and urban libraries to receive the adventure packs.”
The packs will be distributed to libraries that serve diverse communities experiencing environmental health disparities.
Library users can reserve an adventure pack and pass for one week at a time with their library card. A list of 10 library systems participating in the expansion is available on the Check Out Washington website.
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