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…
Search Results
138 Results
06/28/2024
PORT TOWNSEND – Summer is packed with fun activities and programs for the whole family at Fort Worden, Fort Flagler and Fort Townsend this summer.
Join the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission for free interpretive walks, evening programs, pop-up exhibits and museum tours.
From grandparents to little ones, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at the forts. Military history buffs have the opportunity to tour the batteries by flashlight, see old spotlights in action and explore the historic structures. Kids can also spend their summer learning outdoors with one of the forts’… Read more
06/27/2024
OLYMPIA — Recreational boaters in Washington waters will have an easier time disposing of vessel sewage thanks to nearly $690,000 in new federal pass-through grants for recreational boat pumpout and floating restroom projects.
Awarded by the Washington State Parks Clean Vessel Act Grant Program (CVA), the grants focus on constructing or maintaining sewage disposal systems for recreational vessels, and supporting outreach programs that inform boaters about the location of these facilities.
Projects funded in the 2024 grant competition include:
Washington State Parks – $9,666 for Beacon Rock… Read more
06/27/2024
CAMANO ISLAND — The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is excited to support the Cama Beach Quilters in hosting their 15th annual quilt show.
This year, the quilt show is moving from Cama Beach Historical State Park to the Camano Commons Marketplace at Terry’s Corner to accommodate more people with improved parking and space for vendors. The new location is also much flatter and more navigable for eventgoers with limited mobility.
“Quilts on the Commons” will offer the opportunity for visitors to browse through and purchase new and gently used quilts from the Cama Beach… Read more
06/25/2024
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… Read more
06/20/2024
OLYMPIA — Significant septic failures led to the closure of the cabins and other buildings in the beach area of Cama Beach State Park in February 2024.
A comprehensive, multi-year planning process has since started to address the question of the future of the use of the park and cabins, and will include examination of State Parks recreation in this area.
As part of the broader planning process, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) will hold a special commission meeting on Mon., July 15, 2024, in Stanwood, Wash. Parks staff will present additional information about… Read more
06/13/2024
OLYMPIA — On July 1, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will transition to the statewide small works roster hosted by the Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC).
State Parks will no longer use the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) Small Works Roster. Prime contractors who would like to continue receiving small works opportunities after June 30 must register after July 1. The MRSC registration is for prime contractors only at this time. Learn more and register here.
To facilitate this transition, State Parks will pause new small works opportunities from June 17… Read more
06/07/2024
SPOKANE — This week, the easternmost 14 miles of the Spokane River Centennial Trail reopened after the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission resurfaced it with a new layer of asphalt.
The project was completed weeks ahead of schedule.
The newly resurfaced area extends west from the Washington/Idaho border to the Donkey Islands Trailhead in Millwood. The new asphalt provides trail users with a smooth walking, running and riding surface for the next 25 years.
Parks appreciates its community members and visitors for their patience as the agency finished this necessary maintenance… Read more
06/06/2024
Same-day reservations program expands across Washington
OLYMPIA – June 6, 2024 – Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) is excited to announce its same-day reservation pilot program has expanded to 26 parks across the state.
Additionally, Parks has implemented a new flexible dates feature in its reservations system. Rather than searching for exact dates, visitors can now choose the flexible booking dates option and see when different sites are available. This great new feature lets campers with flexibility find a site, especially during peak season, at busier parks… Read more
06/05/2024
SPOKANE — The community is invited to attend an open house to learn more about an upcoming forest thinning project in the 7-Mile area of Riverside State Park.
Between fall 2024 and spring 2025, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will complete a 300-acre forest health treatment in the area. There will be intermittent trail closures within the project area during this time.
Crews will focus on removing excess wildfire fuels and low vigor trees from the treatment area to help return it to a more natural state and promote its health and resiliency.
Long-term benefits of… Read more
06/05/2024
OLYMPIA – Lake Sylvia State Park will close June 10 through Sept. 30 for an improvement project at the park’s entrance.
The $2.9 million Capital project will replace a culvert beneath the entrance road with a bridge and a new road. The new bridge will provide safer and more sustainable infrastructure to the park’s entrance, particularly in heavy rain events.
During the closure, park staff will also complete maintenance and improvements within the park, including pedestrian access to the park on the new bridge.
Due to weather and permitting constraints, the bulk of the construction must… Read more