Protect the Legacy of Washington State Parks

Washington's State Parks are in trouble. Please call your Representatives today and urge them to protect the long-term legacy of our state parks. 

Washington state is facing an unprecedented $8.5 billion gap in revenues forecast for the 2009-11 biennium, and all state agencies have been asked to radically trim their budgets.  Washington State Parks been tasked with cutting nearly 23% of their budget. This will result in "mothballing" between 25 and 35 state parks across Washington. 

While the prospect of losing any state park services, even temporarily, is heartbreaking -- it appears inevitable. The most important thing we can do for parks right now is ensure that the any mothballed park is managed in a way that allows for it to quickly be brought back online when the economy turns around.

Please call your state Representatives and tell them that they cannot simply lock the gate on a state park and walk away.  This is particularly important if you have a Representative on the General Government Appropriations Committee, as they will be dealing with this issue soon.  Keep in mind when you talk with your legislators that they are dealing with a budget crisis and are working hard to juggle many competing priorities of the state.

Here are the Committee Members:

Representative                                       Phone

 Jeannie Darneille     Chair                        (360) 786-7974

 Dean Takko            Vice Chair                 (360) 786-7806

 Jim McCune                                           (360) 786-7824

 Bill Hinkle                                              (360) 786-7808

 Mike Armstrong                                      (360) 786-7832

 Brian Blake                                            (360) 786-7870

 Larry Crouse                                          (360) 786-7820

 Hans Dunshee                                        (360) 786-7804

 Zachary Hudgins                                    (360) 786-7956

 Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney                         (360) 786-7818

 Jamie Pedersen                                     (360) 786-7826

 Mike Sells                                             (360) 786-7840

 Shelly Short                                          (360) 786-7908

 Kevin Van De Wege                                (360) 786-7916

 Brendan Williams                                    (360) 786-7940

What You Can Do:

Please call your state Representatives and tell them to act now to ensure the long-term legacy of Washington's State Parks.

Here are some sample talking points:

• It is vital for the long term legacy of our parks that the legislature provide Washington State Parks with funding for a law enforcement presence at all mothballed state parks.
• Please make a commitment to reopen parks as soon as possible. The legislature should stipulate that, when the state's economy begins to recover, mothballed parks be reopened based on several criteria, including level of use and geographic distribution of park opportunities.

Background:

The Washington state Legislature has had to stretch its budget before, but never to cover a gap as big as this. With an unprecedented $8.5 billion gap in state revenues forecast for the 2009-11 biennium, Governor Gregoire has called upon all state agencies to radically trim their budgets.  Washington State Parks has been tasked with finding nearly $23 million in savings, or about 23% of their budget.

State Parks has proposed cost savings at headquarters and in staffing units as well as proposing "mothballing" between 25 and 35 state parks across Washington.  Mothballed parks would still be technically open to pedestrian traffic, but no parking, services or staff would be available on-site.

WTA's greatest concern with the proposed closures is the idea that one can simply close the gate and walk away and then expect the park to still be intact and serviceable upon one's return.

Too often, parks and forests that are closed or neglected by an agency become lawless zones. WTA is concerned that closing gates and reassigning staff on the listed parks will result in similar kinds of abuse and misuse. Particularly in areas already hard-hit by drug activity and target shooting, state parks could easily degrade into a destination for the sort of illegal activities that have plagued places such as the Mountain Loop Highway and Middle Fork Snoqualmie.

At a minimum, the legislature should support Washington State Parks by providing a law enforcement presence at all mothballed state parks.  And, the agency should enter into interlocal agreements with county and municipal law enforcement to supplement ongoing state patrols.

Furthermore, both the legislature and the State Parks and Recreation Commission must enact specific benchmarks for park reopening.  The legislature should stipulate that, when the state's economy begins to recover again, mothballed parks be reopened based on several criteria, including level of use, geographic distribution of park opportunities and vulnerability to the ravages of minimally supervised closure.  Each unit should complete a reopening plan that will speed the renewal of public access and services.

In the meantime, Washington Trails Association is committed to working with the legislature and State Parks to find the quickest and most sustainable means of supporting the long-term operation of these parks. We will do our part to protect and maintain trails in these parks, and communities and other users around the state are lining up to pledge their help.  We hope the state can find the means to match this support and keep our state parks open, welcoming and well-maintained.

You can read more about WTA's response to the state parks issue here.