It is not the amount so much as the 800% increase all at once - for a primary constituency who are retired and on a fixed income. The original intent was to provide pensioners an inexpensive way to enjoy their parks, which they supported through their taxes for many years, without making them decide between buying the pass or eating right that month. That original intent seems to have gone by the board. I suspect it has a lot to do with longer active life spans these days compared to when the pass was first created.

I agree that a modest increase was warranted. 8x is rather much.