NEWS17-044 | Media contacts:
Virginia Painter, (360) 902-8562 |
State Parks Commission reminds public about multi-partner effort to have safe and sane celebration on ocean seashore conservation areas at Long Beach and other ocean beaches
OLYMPIA – July 1, 2017 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and community partners on the Long Beach Peninsula encourage safe and responsible celebrations on Long Beach Peninsula and other Washington beaches over the upcoming Fourth of July holiday.
In 2016, a variety of strong community partners created a “Beach-Friendly Fourth” campaign intended to help ensure the safety of people and wildlife and the cleanliness of beach areas and wildlife habitat during and after the holiday. The campaign continues in 2017.
Beach-Friendly Fourth partners include the ‘Not a Ban—a Better Plan’ community group, the City of Long Beach, Pacific County Sheriff’s Department, Grass Roots Garbage Gang, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Pacific County, the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau, the Ocean Park Area Chamber of Commerce and Washington State Parks.
State Parks manages the 60 miles of ocean beach in the Seashore Conservation Area, partly through ranger staff assigned to state parks that lie along the ocean beaches in Washington. A new partner group, Neighborhood-Friendly Fourth of Long Beach Peninsula is included in the effort this year.
State Park rangers will patrol the beach on July 4, to provide education and enforcement. The Beach-Friendly Fourth partners welcome visitors over the holiday, with the following reminders:
- Use existing campgrounds and lodgings—it is illegal to camp on the beach.
- Respect any burn bans. If no ban is in place, fires must be 100 feet from dunes and vegetation and no larger than 4 feet by 4 feet.
- Use only legal fireworks, and observe fireworks hours over the holiday:
- July 4: 9 a.m. to midnight
- July 5: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Use restrooms. Please do not use dunes as a bathroom.
- Respect neighborhoods and private property.
- Pick up all garbage—pack it in, pack it out.
A special reminder to motorists on the beach: Be aware of tides, and don’t take risks by parking low on the beach. Cars can get easily stuck in sand, and rising tides can come in fast and overtake parked vehicles. Four-wheel drive is recommended but is not necessarily safe in the event of soft sand and quickly rising tides. Ocean beaches are not staffed with people equipped with or charged with doing vehicle rescue, and responder agencies will be busy with other Fourth of July duties. A high volume of people and vehicles on the beach on the holiday can pose additional challenges to motorists trying to move their vehicles.
About the Long Beach Peninsula
With its mix of great restaurants, ultra-fresh seafood, welcoming lodging, delightful festivals, unique museums, lighthouses, trails, state and national parks and a 28-mile long silver-sand beach, the Long Beach Peninsula is one of the Northwest’s most enjoyable and refreshing destinations. Located two hours from Portland and three from greater Seattle, the Peninsula is a longtime favorite for those seeking relaxation in welcoming communities, recreation in easily accessible nature and rejuvenation in wide-open spaces. Visitor information is available through the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau at (360) 642-2400 or online at www.funbeach.com.
_________________________________________________________________________________
About Washington State Parks
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission manages more than 100 state parks and properties totaling approximately 120,000 acres. The Commission provides a variety of recreation opportunities for citizens and provides stewardship protection for a diverse array of natural, cultural and historic resources. State Parks’ statewide programs include long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation.
Follow Washington State Parks:
Share your favorite state park adventure on the State Parks’ blog site at http://adventureawaits.com/
Support state parks by purchasing your annual Discover Pass today, and enjoy a whole year of outdoor fun on Washington’s beautiful state-managed recreation lands. For more information, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
1111 Israel Road S.W.
P.O. Box 42650
Olympia, WA 98504-2650
Washington Telecommunications Relay Service: (800) 833-6388