HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC Radio) - More people are visiting Connecticut state parks, but are staying for a shorter period of time. That's according to the Connecticut Forest and Park Association.The association believes the change in behavior is thanks to the Passport to Parks program, which is now in its second summer. The program eliminated park entrance fees for state residents, who instead pay a $10 surcharge every two years on vehicle registrations, to fund park upkeep and maintenance.“Before the Passport to Parks, when people paid $13 at the gate for one visit to a shoreline park like Hammonasset Beach State Park, they stayed as long as they could to get their money’s worth,” said Eric Hammerling, the association's executive director. “Since the fee at the gate was waived for Connecticut residents starting in 2018 thanks to the Passport, people generally aren’t staying as long, and this frees up parking spaces for additional visitors."The passport program brings in roughly $14 million a year, according to Hammerling.