Contents: (The most recent information is posted at the top)
| March 29, 2006 | - | WA Parks Permit Refund |
| June 5, 2003 | - | Budget - Good News |
| Dec 3, 2002 | - | State Parks seeks public comment on creating a "Vision 2020" |
| June 14, 2002 | - | Parks will remain open; day use fee charged |
| May 30, 2002 | - | State Parks schedules public information sessions on proposed vehicle parking fees at 6 state parks |
| April 2, 2002 | - | Washington State Parks will discontinue operations at 13 parks after September 30, 2002. |
| March 7, 2002 | - | State Parks schedules public forums - please attend these meetings |
| Feb 27, 2002 | - | Potential Parks closures - please write your State Reps |
March 29, 2006
WA Parks Permit Refund
Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire signed a bill to repeal the Washington State Park fees effective April 9th, 2006. Permit holders were allowed refunds for annual passes purchased for the 2006 season.
June 5, 2003
Budget - Good News-
From James L. King, Jr., Coordinator, Citizens for WA Parks and Recreation, "Confirmation is in, and we are looking at the best news for State Parks in over twenty years. With the final budget, we get the Senate dollars and the House ftes- the best of both worlds. We have a fully funded system, with the net parking fee revenue going to help reduce the deferred maintenance backlog, and a very equitable capital budget on its way."
December 3, 2002
State Parks seeks public comment on creating a "Vision 2020"
CGWA Members:
Many of you may have received this message from Washington State Parks. Here's your chance to provide some guidance to the WA State Park Commissioners. Please visit the WA Parks web site and fill out the survey.
Diane Barkhimer, Executive Director, CGWA
TO: Interested Parties
FROM:The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
SUBJECT: State Parks seeks public comment on creating a "Vision 2020"
You have previously expressed interest in Washington State Parks and sent us an E-mail. You are invited to respond to a questionnaire appearing at the following web site:
The purpose of the questionnaire is to make the Commission aware of what you want in your park system now and into the future. The questionnaire will appear on the website through early January 2003. Results from the questionnaire will be provided to the Commission at its January 30, 2003 meeting in Olympia.
If you do not have access to the website and want to participate, you may receive a hard copy by calling Renee Pacana at (360) 902-8525, or writing to her at the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, PO Box 42650, Olympia, WA., 98504-2650. If you are interested in remaining on the mailing list for information about the vision work, please let us know.
The time to look to the future is now. Get involved. Help the Commission craft a vision with its park visitors in mind!
June 14, 2002
Parks will remain open; day use fee charged
CGWA Members:
The WA State Park Commissioners decided to keep the parks open on a trial basis to be reviewed in September. Starting Monday, June 24th, there will be an "emergency" fee at all of Columbia River WA State Parks; Hatchery, Doug's, Maryhill, Horsethief, & Beacon Rock. $5 day-use fee; $40 seasonal fee. You will have to purchase these passes from Park Rangers. I have asked for a reduced rate for current CGWA members as we help to maintain these parks, but won't know the final outcome for a couple of days.
The WA Park Commissioners truly did not want to charge day-use fees at their parks. I have attended and have spoken at many of their meetings over the years, and their goal has always been to keep day-use parks "free" to the public. Beacon Rock & Maryhill each have their own separate accounts. Money collected at Doug's, Hatchery, and Horsethief will go into the same account. I don't know how they will divide up seasonal passes.
Crow Butte may be closed at the end of the season, but your letters were instrumental in keeping the other parks open. Thank you.
Diane Barkhimer, Executive Director, CGWA
June 14, 2002, From: WA State Parks
Cleve Pinnix, Director
STATE OF WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON STATE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
7150 Cleanwater Lane
PO Box 42650
Olympia, WA 98504-2650
(360) 902-8500
Media Contact: Virginia Painter (360) 902-8562
Commission approves vehicle parking fee for selected state parks
At its regular meeting yesterday, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission approved implementation of an emergency vehicle parking fee for selected state parks.
The commission adopted a $5 daily vehicle parking permit and a $40 annual vehicle parking permit at Potholes, Maryhill, Spring Creek Hatchery, Beacon Rock, Horsethief Lake and Doug's Beach state parks beginning June 24. The fees will pay to keep Potholes (on leased land belonging to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation) and Maryhill and Spring Creek Hatchery (on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land) open to the public and could, if revenues are sufficient, provide for some future improvements at the parks.
Parking permits will not be required for vehicles and occupants with daily and annual watercraft launch permits (watercraft launch and vehicle parking permits are interchangeable) nor for registered campers and vehicles of visitors with limited-income senior citizen, disability or disabled veteran passes. Daily permits can be purchased in-person at park entrance stations or self-pay booths. Annual permits can be purchased in person or by mail at State Parks headquarters, 7150 Cleanwater Lane, Olympia, WA 98504. In the future, annual permits will be available online and at region offices. Watercraft launch permits are available online at www.parks.wa.gov and in person or by mail at State Parks headquarters and region offices.
As part of the 2002 Supplemental Budget, State Parks was required to take $2.9 million in budget reductions for the second year of the biennium, which begins July 1, 2002, and ends June 30, 2003. Among other reductions, the State Parks commission directed staff to explore canceling leases on 13 parks operated by the state but owned by other government entities, unless operating support could be provided by the landowners. As negotiations progressed between State Parks and the underlying land owners, other government entities stepped up with offers to run some parks, and staff began to explore alternative revenue options.
The following are results of negotiations with the landowners:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
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Maryhill State Park and Spring Creek Hatchery - The Corps stated it would not be able to provide operating funds to the state for these parks. Klickitat County expressed a willingness to possibly operate Maryhill for three to five years and charge a day-use fee. Skamania County expressed a willingness to possibly operate Spring Creek Hatchery for an extended period of time and charge a day-use fee. State Parks will charge a vehicle parking fee at both parks in order to keep them open.
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Central Ferry, Crow Butte, Lyons Ferry and Chief Timothy state parks - State Parks will continue lease cancellations at these parks because, at this time, no viable alternatives are available to State Parks to continue operating them. The Corps will need to determine whether they will continue to be available to the public.
(The news release listed several other state parks; they were outside of the Gorge area.)
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages a diverse system of 126 parks and several recreation programs, including boating, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. The 89-year-old park system, which receives more than 47 million visits a year, nationally ranks fourth in day-use attendance, 10th in overnight attendance and 47th in state budget expenditure per visitor.
May 30, 2002
State Parks schedules public information sessions on proposed vehicle parking fees at 6 state parks
CGWA Members:
WA State Parks has just faxed a memo regarding park closures, fees etc. There are 3 meetings which you may attend to voice your opinions & discuss them with WA Parks. You may also telephone their comment line: 360-902-8518, and you may e-mail: budget.cuts@parks.wa.gov
When you do comment, and if you don't like the fees or their amounts, please offer useful suggestions. Many of you in your previous responses to the park closures had suggested that you would pay park fees in order to keep the sites open. We need to continue to work well with WA Parks for a good long-term relationship that will lead to improved access. We're still forging ahead to get $1.5M in Scenic Area Recreation construction funds for the Hatchery...plus more $$ for the other sites: Viento, W Mayer, & Mosier Waterfront. Go to this web address for those details: http://cgrc.mediaforte.com
Thanks for your support!
Diane Barkhimer, Executive Director, CGWA
May 29, 2002, From: WA State Parks
The Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission has scheduled three public information sessions around the state on a proposal to require a $5 vehicle parking permit at Potholes State Park & at five Columbia Gorge parks. If approved, the emergency fees would raise revenue to keep open three of 13 state parks - Potholes, Maryhill and Spring Creek - that are currently listed for lease cancellation and possible closure due to state budget cuts.
The director and State Parks staff will be on hand at the public information sessions to explain the vehicle parking permit proposal, answer questions and hear comments from the public. The public information sessions are as follows:
- Moses Lake: 6:30-9:30 pm Wednesday, June 5, at the City Fire Department, 701 E. Third Ave
- Goldendale: 1am-2pm Thursday, June 6, at the Public Utility District, 1313 S. Columbus Ave
- Vancouver: 6:30 to 9:30 pm Thursday, June 6, at the Three Creeks Community Library, 800 NE Tenney Rd
State Parks staff will ask the State Parks commission at its regular meeting on June 13 in Vancouver to approve the vehicle parking fee proposal on an emergency basis this summer. If approved, a $5 daily vehicle parking permit or a $40 annual vehicle parking permit would be required at Potholes, Maryhill, Spring Creek Hatchery, Beacon Rock, Horsethief Lake and Doug's Beach state parks beginning June 24. The fees would pay to keep Potholes, on leased land belonging to the US Bureau of Reclamation, and Maryhill and Spring Creek Hatchery, on US Army corps of Engineers Lane, open to the public and could, if revenues are sufficient, provide for some future improvements at the parks.
A summary of public comments from next week's three public information sessions will be forwarded to the Commission prior to the regular meeting June 13.
As part of the 2002 Supplemental budget, State Parks was required to take $2.9 million in budget reductions for the second year of the biennium, which begins July 1 and end June 20, 2003. Among other reductions, the State Parks commission directed staff to explore canceling leases on parks operated by the state but owned by other government entities, unless operating support could be provided by the landowners. As negotiations progressed between State Parks and the underlying land owners, other government entities stepped up with offer to run some parks and staff began to explore alternative revenue options.
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages a diverse system of 126 parks and several recreation programs, including boating, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. The 89-year-old park system, which receives more than 47 million visits a year, nationally ranks fourth in day-use attendance, 10th in overnight attendance and 47th in state budget expenditure per visitor.
April 2, 2002
Washington State Parks will discontinue operations at 13 parks
CGWA Members & Friends,
Washington State Parks will be sending a letter today (April 2, 2002) to the property owners, in our case the US Army Corps of Engineers, cancelling their lease, and they will discontinue their operations at the Hatchery, Maryhill, and Crow Butte after September 30, 2002. This includes all 13 parks on their list.
CGWA will continue to keep you updated. Hoped to have next step ready for you today...but still waiting for a return phone call.
Diane Barkhimer, Executive Director, CGWA
April 2, 2002, From: WA State Parks
"Washington State will work with the federal landowners on a number of approaches to keep the state parks open, but a resolution must involve some kind of assistance with the operating budget. If State Parks can no longer afford to operate the facilities, then we hope that the landowners will find ways to continue that public access."
"This is an issue that has affected many of the western states as you can see from the sites below. The Congress took action on this issue by its Reclamation Recreation Management Act (Public Law 102-575, Title 28) of 1992. The Congress also established a commission to advise the President about recreation on federal lakes (Public Law 104-333). The National Lake Study Commission published "Reservoirs of Opportunity" in 1991 (link below). Partially as a result, The National Recreation Act (S.531) was referred to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee last March."
March 7, 2002
WA State Parks Meetings, Web Site & Email Address
CGWA Members,
Here is a note that I received today. If Washington residents can make any of these meetings, please do. At the bottom of the note is a web site and another e-mail address to which you may write if you cannot attend the meetings. I will be attending the WA Parks Commission meeting in Spokane, and I will be taking your letters copied on to a hideous bright yellow color paper...so keep them coming! If you visit the web site below...look at #2. "...cost of operating them (parks) exceeds the revenue they generate..." Many of you have already written that you're coming to the area spending money in several different locations in Washington State (gas, food, lodging, retail, etc) and although this money is not spent directly in the park visited, you are spending elsewhere in the state. A very good point.
You're making a dfference already as I'm getting calls regarding your mail. Thanks!!
Diane Barkhimer, Executive Director, CGWA
State Parks schedules public forums on budget cuts, possible park closures
The Washington State Legislature has the challenge of making more than $1 billion in budget reductions to address a General Fund State (GFS) budget shortfall - cuts in everything from health care and social programs to statewide staff reductions. For state parks, this is likely to mean park closures and program and staffing cuts at headquarters and region offices.
A series of five public forums in three locations has been scheduled to allow citizens to learn about potential closures and to air their concerns. State Environmental Policy Act issues also may be addressed. Comment will be sought and used to identify issues to help guide commission action. Attending will be one or more State Parks commissioners, the State Parks director and other State Parks staff. All comments will be forwarded to the full State Parks commission before its regularly scheduled meeting later in the month.
Public forums:
- Lakewood: 2 to 5 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, Lakewood Community Center, 9112 Lakewood Drive SW, Suite 121
- Pasco: 2 to 5 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, March 18, Franklin County Public Utility District, 1411 W. Clark St.
- Wenatchee: 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, Red Lion Motel, 1225 N. Wenatchee Ave.
Budget reduction options: State Parks can make some cost reductions by returning some maintenance funds appropriated by the Legislature and by making program and personnel cuts at the headquarters and region levels. In addition, the State Parks commission may consider raising camping, boat launch and trailer dump fees by $1 or $2 for the coming season. But more reductions would be needed.
Lease cancellations explored: State Parks is exploring with landowners the possibility of financial support for parks the agency operates but does not own. If no support is available, State Parks may cancel leases on the following: Potholes and Summer Falls state parks, owned by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation; Crow Butte, Central Ferry, Chief Timothy, Maryhill, Lyons Ferry state parks and Spring Creek Hatchery, owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Ike Kinswa and Lake Cushman state parks, owned by Tacoma Power and Light; Daroga, Lincoln Rock and Wenatchee Confluence state parks, owned by Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County.
Closure of state-owned parks possible: Depending upon operating cost reductions made on the leased parks, and depending upon the final budget passed by the legislature, some state-owned parks also may be closed. Using a variety of criteria, including historic significance, revenue as a percentage of operating costs, visitation, recreation opportunity, manageability of a closure, condition of infrastructure and other factors, the following parks were ranked in order for closure consideration, with the intent of mothballing them for a minimum of three years: Mukilteo, Snohomish County; Tolmie, Thurston County; Nolte, King County; Olallie, King County; Kopachuck, Pierce County; Wallace Falls, Snohomish County; Squilchuck, Chelan County; Bogachiel, Clallam County; Wenberg, Snohomish County; Bridle Trails, King County.
For more detail on budget cuts at State Parks, visit the web site at www.parks.wa.gov and click on "State Parks budget cuts." For those who cannot attend a public forum, comment also may be made in the following ways:
- By e-mail: Budget.Cuts@parks.wa.gov
- By voice-message: (360) 902-8518
February 27, 2002
Potential WA Parks closures - Hatchery, Maryhill, Crow Butte
We need your help to keep parks from closing!
Due to proposed budget cuts in the State of Washington, Washington State Parks is exploring the idea of returning some leased parks back to their primary owners (in our area, the US Army Corps of Engineers) or closing them altogether. There are 13 parks listed in this category, and three of those parks on the Columbia River involve windsurfing: Spring Creek Hatchery, Maryhill and Crow Butte.
Please write to the Washington State Legislators explaining what these parks mean to you, how often you visit, numbers in your party, "money" you spend at the parks and/or in nearby towns, property taxes you pay for a primary or secondary residence to live near and/or vacation near these sites. Skamania and Klickitat County have some of the highest unemployment figures in the country, and every visitor is important.
If you can write on business letterhead...so much the better. We're all getting used to e-mail these days, but if a letter snail mailed or faxed can easily be done by you & not put off...please do so. I thought that a copy of your letter could also be sent to the Director of Washington State Parks. Addresses are below. If I've left anyone off that you think we should contact, please let me know.
Please send CGWA a copy of your letter; e-mail works for us.
Please remember, that Columbia Gorge Windsurfing Association members have been instrumental in keeping Doug's Beach from being on the "cut" list two times in recent years. Thanks for your help.
Diane Barkhimer, Executive Director, CGWA