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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).

Olympia — The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission welcomes the community to attend an open house on Feb. 27 to discuss ongoing planning for Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park.  

“May These Gates Never Be Closed”

The inscription inside the east wall of the Peace Arch monument has a simple message: the highest goal between great nations should be perfect peace.  This 67-foot-tall structure of concrete on a steel frame was financed and constructed under the direction of lawyer, financier, road builder and humanitarian Sam Hill.

Have you ever wondered about the dragonfly and damselfly nymphs that call Cascade Lake home? Discover the fascinating stages of aquatic invertebrates through a guided dip netting with Ranger Kathy, and then take a closer look at the insects found at Moran State Park.
Have you ever wondered about the dragonfly and damselfly nymphs that call Cascade Lake home? Discover the fascinating stages of aquatic invertebrates through a guided dip netting with Ranger Kathy, and then take a closer look at the insects found at Moran State Park.
Join Ranger Kathy and Wolf Hollow's Education and Research Manager Hadley to learn how beavers build climate resistance and why they are vital to our salmon.
Drop-in to dissect an owl pellet and learn the important role that owls play in the Park's ecosystem.

OLYMPIA — Washington State Parks encourages members of the community to participate in the process of developing a new master plan for Blake Island Marine State Park. 

State Parks is set to host its first community meeting to discuss the park and learn about the community’s hopes for its future on Sept. 18 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Ballard Branch of the Seattle Public Library.  

Join Ranger Kathy for a leisurely walk in the forest as we learn life lessons from our plant teachers.

BLAINE – The Nooksack Indian Tribe will welcome canoe families today at Birch Bay State Park. The landing is a stopover on the Power Paddle to Puyallup Youth Canoe Journey.

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (Parks) has begun using a new electronic bidding system for public works projects.

The launch of the Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) Bonfire system marks the first phase in the agency’s larger plan to modernize and streamline procurement across all competitive applications. 

Cold weather scuba diving is popular in the Northwest, and our western Washington waters are among the premier places to dive in the country, says Mike Racine, a western Washington diving enthusiast. Undersea life in our region is vibrant and beautiful — a rarely seen scape of infinite wonder and mystery.

OLYMPIA — One of the most uniquely Washington ways to experience the beauty of the state is to explore it by bike. 

So, charged by the Legislature to raise the profile of some of Washington’s most notable cycling routes, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has officially established the statewide Scenic Bikeways Program. This program involves participation from the public who will have the opportunity to nominate routes they think should become Scenic Bikeways. 

 

Washington State Parks is conducting a public planning process to update the long-term boundary for Riverside State Park to include the property known as Glen Tana. This project adds over 1,000 acres just outside Spokane, expanding recreation opportunities and environmental protections in a high-demand, urban setting.  

 

Step through the kitchen door of the Rothschild House and step back to the 1800’s. Located at the corner of Jefferson and Taylor Streets in uptown Port Townsend, the Rothschild House is virtually unchanged from a hundred years ago.

OLYMPIA – Celebrate the new year with Washington State Parks during our annual First Day Hikes events on Jan. 1, 2025.  

More than 30 state parks will host staff-led and self-guided hikes, snowshoe excursions, trail rides, polar plunges, scavenger hunts and more on New Year’s Day.  

The Boring Volcanic Field

Battle Ground Lake is a part of a geologic formation called the Boring Volcanic Field (named for the town of Boring, OR), but the stories revealed in its bedrock are actually quite interesting!

In the Pacific Northwest, the slow-moving subduction of the oceanic crust of the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate underneath North American continent produces molten magma that rises toward the surface. Sometimes, the magma reaches the surface and produces a volcanic explosion (like the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980). 

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.

BLAINE – The Nooksack Indian Tribe will welcome canoe families on July 23 at Birch Bay State Park for a stopover as they continue their 2025 canoe journey. 

Several canoes will arrive at the beach and ask the host Tribe permission to come ashore. Canoe landings will occur throughout the day on the beach at Birch Bay by the Heron Center log building. 

Can you survive as a salmon? Come try your luck and test your skills in this high energy game!

Embarking on a recreational journey for the first time can be exhilarating and scary. Whether you are joining the land of outdoor lovers to start a new hobby or improve your mental or physical health – the exploration process can be a bit challenging if you don’t know where to start. That is where Washington State Parks comes in! 
State Parks has completed the development for the new statewide Scenic Bikeways pilot program. Our management of the program includes overseeing the route nomination, evaluation, and designation process, as well as coordinating the implementation of Scenic Bikeway routes with partners and stakeholders. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is the decision-making group with authority to designate a proposed route as a Scenic Bikeway.

This program involves participation from the public who have the opportunity to nominate routes they think should become Scenic Bikeways.
Come learn about the interesting adaptations that beavers have made to their aquatic environments.

State Parks Clean Vessel Act Grant Program funds $700,000 in new pumpout and floating restroom projects

Recreational boat pumpout facilities expand across the state

OLYMPIA – April 5, 2022 – Recreational boaters in Washington waters will have an easier time disposing of vessel sewage, thanks to more than $700,000 in new federal pass-through grants for recreational boat pumpout and floating restroom projects.