State Parks urges people to recreate responsibly this Fourth of July
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) asks everyone who is planning a Fourth of July celebration at a park or on the beach to be safe and protect their friends, neighbors, public lands and wildlife.
Parks sees a dramatic increase in visitation during Independence Day celebrations, particularly on its beaches. The increase in traffic also increases the amount of trash left behind. Last year, volunteers collected more than 111,000 pounds of garbage from ocean beaches during Parks’ annual July 5 beach cleanup. That’s equivalent to the combined weight of about seven…
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06/29/2023
OLYMPIA – June 29, 2023 – Washington's state parks are some of the most iconic in the country. Now, more families will be able to experience the beauty in their backyard thanks to the expanded Check Out Washington program.
This year, Check Out Washington will provide 500 Adventure Packs with Discover passes – up from 400 in 2022 – to local libraries around the state. The program has also expanded into new regions, including Bellingham Public Library, Ellensburg Public Library, Fort Vancouver Regional Library and Whatcom County Library.
Check Out Washington is a collaborative… Read more
06/22/2023
OLYMPIA – June 22, 2023 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) asks everyone who is planning a Fourth of July celebration at a park or on the beach to be safe and protect their friends, neighbors, public lands and wildlife. Parks sees a dramatic increase in visitation during Independence Day celebrations, particularly on its beaches. The increase in traffic also increases the amount of trash left behind. Last year, volunteers collected more than 35,000 pounds of garbage from ocean beaches during Parks' annual July 5 beach cleanup. That's equivalent to the combined… Read more
06/13/2023
OLYMPIA – June 13, 2023 – Plan your next adventure along the Willapa Hills Trail and explore the brand-new multi-use Littell Bridge near the Adna Trailhead. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) is pleased to announce the completion of the Littell Bridge. The new bridge gives trail-goers a safe crossing over State Route 6 (SR 6) as they explore the long-distance trail on foot, bike or horseback. The community is invited to come out and celebrate during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 23. Then, get out and enjoy the beauty of the Willapa Hills Trail with Lewis County… Read more
06/09/2023
Overnight mooring space may be limited during maintenance workOLYMPIA – June 9, 2023 – The Washington State Parks and recreation Commission (Parks) will complete routine inspection and maintenance of 180 public mooring buoys in parks this summer. Work will begin in north and central Puget Sound on Monday, June 12, and will continue across Puget Sound through June.The maintenance project will service state-owned public mooring buoys to ensure they are in top condition for boaters during the height of the summer season. Boaters should be cautious of repair divers in the area and allow extra… Read more
05/23/2023
OLYMPIA – May 24, 2023 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold its regularly scheduled commission work session virtually on May 31.Commission work session items include a financial update covering Parks' 2021-23 biennium operating and capital budget expenditures and Parks Renewal and Stewardship Account (PRSA) revenue; a presentation on potential changes to the Foster Family Program; and a discussion about potential dates and locations for 2024 Commission work session and regular meetings.This is an online meeting and all Parks staff and commissioners will be… Read more
05/16/2023
OLYMPIA – May 16, 2023 – Recreational boating is a popular pastime in Washington. In fact, nearly 225,000 vessels were registered in 2023. When you include Washington residents who own at least one canoe, kayak, rowboat, or stand-up paddle board, boats and boaters are everywhere! That's why every May, the Washington State Parks Recreational Boating Safety Program promotes the National Safe Boating Week campaign to remind people about the importance of safe boating. Boating is not without risk. The chilly waters of the Pacific Northwest can be unforgiving, and safety must be on the minds of… Read more
04/26/2023
OLYMPIA – April 26, 2023 – Sun Lakes – Dry Falls State Park has long been known as a geological icon and must-see destination for Washingtonians. Now, its significant legacy is being recognized on an international scale. The International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), one of the world's largest scientific organizations, has selected Dry Falls to be part of The First 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites, which includes areas designated by the geoscience community for their significant impact in understanding the Earth and its history."It is wonderful to see Dry Falls be recognized as one… Read more
04/24/2023
The City of Westport and Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) will be co-hosting an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Scoping open house for the public. This is an opportunity for the public to learn more about and participate in the State Environment Policy Act (SEPA) EIS process for the Westport Golf Links proposal at Westport Light State Park (WLSP). Westport Golf, Inc. proposes a Scottish links-style golf course within the boundaries of WLSP. This proposal includes the development of a long-term concession agreement with Parks that would allow Westport Golf, Inc.… Read more
04/20/2023
Application period closes May 10 OLYMPIA – April 20, 2023 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) will establish a statewide Scenic Bikeways program. As part of that effort, the agency will establish an advisory task force to work with agency staff throughout the development and implementation of this new program. Parks is recruiting approximately 15 members of the public to serve a two-year term on a volunteer advisory task force. Most task force meetings will take place virtually. However, the task force may occasionally meet in person. Travel expenses for in-person… Read more
04/05/2023
OLYMPIA – April 5, 2023 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold its regular hybrid commission meeting on Thurs., April 13, 2023, at The Historic Davenport Hotel in Spokane. The public is welcome to attend in-person or online. Agenda items include:Report on the status of Parks' operating and capital budget expenditures and revenue.Review of the 2023 legislative session. Updates on the Washington State Parks Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) plan.Summary of the 2023-25 No Child Left Inside (NCLI) grant evaluation process.Update on foundational work for Tribal… Read more