Camping in Washington this summer is likely to be a lot more crowded. And not just because your tent is the cheapest vacation spot to be found.
Due to an unprecedented $8.5 billion budget gap, the Governor of Washington state has told Washington State Parks to cut a whopping 23% of their budget. Which means some of our favorite state parks are on the chopping block.
Maybe you’ve already made camping reservations for your family this summer. Well, if your destination is Wallace Falls, Lake Wenatchee, Beacon Rock or Fort Ebey, you will want a backup plan. Honestly. These iconic state parks, along with 25 – 35 others, are likely to close on July 1.
Can these park closures be stopped? Probably not.
State parks are where many youngsters get their first introduction to the great outdoors. From family picnics and swimming in lakes, to camping and hiking and exploring, state parks provide close access for urban and suburban families to nature and outdoor fun. To close such a large number of parks, many of them hugely popular, seems incredibly short-sighted. But nearly everything funded by our state is being eyed for cuts this year. And unfortunately, our state parks do not have sustainable sources of funding. So when our economy tanks, state parks go on the chopping block.
Washington Trails Association is looking into solutions to help fix the problem of funding for our state parks so that they have a dedicated and predictable source of funding to protect them from the inevitable cycles of our state and federal economies. Click here to take action.
In the meanwhile, you’ll fare better planning your camping trips to state parks that are not on this list, or making your camping reservations at national park campgrounds and forest service campgrounds.
Photo of Beacon Rock by John Bennett.
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That list is difficult to swallow! It’s surprising that some of the most well-known and highly used parks, like Wallace Falls, Lake Wenatchee, Dash Point, and Saltwater are listed, to name a few. Will buying this license plate, which features Wallace Falls and Lake Wenatchee help?
http://www.parks.wa.gov/licenseplates/