By S.Browne. Updated 10:47 a.m., Friday, May 15, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
The National Parks, Rivers and Beaches Authority (NPRBA) will once again open several of the country’s natural and heritage sites to the public free of charge as part of its annual Parks Exploration Day initiative for National Parks Awareness Month 2026.
In a notice issued on May 14, the Authority announced that the EC$5 site facility user fee will be waived at all NPRBA-managed sites on Friday, May 15 and Friday, May 29.
However, the Authority noted that fees for gazebos, fire pits, and day unit facilities will still apply.
The initiative forms part of a wider programme of activities being held during National Parks Awareness Month, which the NPRBA says is aimed at promoting environmental conservation and increasing public appreciation for the country’s natural, cultural and historical assets.
The Authority, whose mandate includes the preservation and management of St Vincent and the Grenadines’ ecological and cultural heritage, oversees a number of popular sites across the country, including the Dark View Falls, La Soufrière, Owia Salt Pond and the St. Vincent Botanical Gardens.
The Parks Exploration Day initiative has become a recurring feature of the Authority’s public awareness campaigns in recent years, with free-entry days previously organised as part of National Parks Awareness Month celebrations. In 2024, the NPRBA also hosted educational tours and outreach activities for students as part of efforts to strengthen awareness about the value of green spaces and environmental stewardship.
The importance of such initiatives has become increasingly significant as St Vincent and the Grenadines continues to balance tourism development with environmental protection. The country’s parks, rivers, beaches, and heritage sites play a major role not only in recreation and eco-tourism, but also in biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and cultural preservation.
The NPRBA was established under Act No. 33 of 2002 to protect and manage the nation’s natural, historical, and cultural resources.
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