Save Washington State Parks

Our state parks are vital not only to quality of life, but local communities whose economies rely on the parks' tourism revenue.

Washington State Parks has been asked to prepare a budget that includes more than $23 million in reductions, approximately 30% of its total budget.

The list of State Parks at risk has now grown to over 40, with 32 more added to the original 15 to be closed, mothballed or transferred. A park you love is almost certainly on the list:

http://tinyurl.com/closingparks (list current as of March 5)
(a list and map of all WA State Parks on the chopping block - includes Ft. Ebey, Ft. Casey, Larrabee, Ft. Flagler, Illahee, Millersylvania, Mount Spokane, Peace Arch, Saltwater, St. Edward, Flaming Geyser, Lake Wenatchee and many other parks with hundreds of thousands of visitors each year)

Camp Moran Environmental Learning Center on Orcas Island is also on the list, but not specifically named in the proposal.

What you can do:

1. Send your thoughts, ideas and suggestions, succinctly, to:

Your district's state senator:
http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Senators/

Your district's state legislator:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx

Governor Gregoire: http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/

The Director of State Parks: rex.derr@parks.wa.gov or:
PO Box 42650 Olympia, WA 98504-2650. The main office phone number for state parks is 360-902-8500.

Please read the Park District's initiatives for 2013 and keep their goals in mind when formulating your legislative letter.

http://www.parks.wa.gov/Centennial2013/

2. Pass this blog's URL along to friends and family who live in Washington, love the outdoors, or appreciate inexpensive recreation.

3. Post this blog's URL on relevant pages - other facebook groups, online newspaper articles, hiking blogs, to help get the word out.

Park closures happened in Illinois, and it will happen in Washington unless citizens take action:

http://skinnymoose.com/adventurist/2008/09/05/illinois-forced-to-close-11-state-parks-and-25-historical-landmarks/

The State Parks Commission will not make any final decisions until the Legislature approves a 2009-11 budget.

The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn April 26, and a special meeting of the commission will be called a week or two afterward.

That's at least 7 weeks to make a difference.