Parks Prices Just Fell Off the Cliff

If you haven't gotten your annual parking pass for Orange County Parks, this is a good week.

That's because the 2011 passes for county parks and beaches are now $40. That's half-price.

Seniors (60+) and handicapped passes are $25 and are good through the end of the year. There is no fee for distinguished veterans, which are those who have received the Medal of Honor or veterans with a 50 percent or higher service-connected disability or who were held as prisoners of war.

If you're keen on just parks or just beaches, those passes are available for $27.50. For seniors, the cost is $17.50.

Annual passes and decals are available at the following OC Parks facilities. Call first to confirm availability and office hours, or call 1-866-OCPARKS for locations.

• Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park
• Carbon Canyon Regional Park
• Caspers Wilderness Park
• Clark Regional Park
• Craig Regional Park
• Dana Point Youth and Group
• Heritage Hill Historical Park
• Irvine Regional Park
• George Key Ranch Historical Park
• Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
• Laguna Niguel Regional Park
• Limestone Canyon and Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park
• Mason Regional Park
• Mile Square Regional Park
• Newport Harbor Patrol
• O'Neill Regional Park
• Peters Canyon Regional Park
• Riley Wilderness Park
• Santiago Oaks Regional Park
• Upper Newport bay Nature Preserve
• Yorba Regional Park