ATLANTA — Outdoor enthusiasts who want to save money while supporting Georgia’s state parks can purchase a 2009 Annual ParkPass or join Friends of Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites.

By doing so, they help maintain hiking and biking trails, build fishing docks and picnic shelters, renovate campgrounds and cottages, and fund dozens of other projects from the mountains to the coast. Best of all, they save money on already affordable getaways and enjoy hiking trails, fishing ponds, swimming beaches and many other amenities for free.

The $30 Annual ParkPass exempts visitors for paying the daily $3-$4 parking fee at parks such as Amicalola Falls, Red Top Mountain, Providence Canyon, Skidaway Island and Panola Mountain. The tag hangs from a rearview mirror and is good for one year from its purchase date.

Each year the ParkPass program generates around $3 million for improvements at 63 state parks and historic sites. Membership to the non-profit Friends of Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites includes a free Annual ParkPass, free annual historic site pass, gift shop discounts, free round of golf or night of camping, and a free ticket on the SAM Shortline Excursion Train.

To purchase an Annual ParkPass, stop by any state park office or call (770) 389-7401.

Discounts are offered to seniors (50 percent) and disable veterans (25 percent). ParkPasses are not valid at Stone Mountain, Lake Lanier Islands, Jekyll Island or the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Areas because these properties are not state parks operated by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. For a list of included parks, visit www.GeorgiaStateParks.org.

The Friends of Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites is a non-profit organization with more than 40 chapters across the Peach State. Membership levels begin at $45 for individuals and $70 for families, increasing with each level of membership. To join, call 1-888-948-2092 or log on to www.friendsofgeorgiastateparks.org.