Spokane7
55°
December 8, 2011 in Outdoors, City
Riverside, Mount Spokane parks likely to be combined
Rich Landers
The Spokesman-Review
Riverside and Mount Spokane state parks likely will be combined and full-time employees reduced by about 40 percent as Washington State Parks officials scramble to slash the agency’s budget.
A shortfall from lagging Discover Pass sales has left state parks strapped for cash after being cut off from most taxpayer funding by the Washington Legislature.
Decisions are still being made and changed daily after the Parks and Recreation Commission voted Tuesday to eliminate 161 of the agency’s 516 full-time positions.
“At this point, it looks like a done deal that Riverside and Mount Spokane will be combined,” Chris Guidotti, Riverside State Park manager, said today.
Read the rest of this story at Rich Landers’ Outdoors blog.
Recent stories by Rich Landers
Landers: Elk hunters can find many options near Turnbull May 24, 2012
- Landers: Elk hunting options abound near Turnbull May 23, 2012
- Woman anchors The Guide Shop 20 years to tap Clearwater River fishing May 20, 2012
- Local Trail Angels: Back Country Horsemen May 20, 2012
- Back Country Horsemen tend Pend Oreille park trails May 20, 2012
Recent stories in Outdoors
- Wildlife Services’ deadly force brings environmental problems May 27, 2012 2
- OUT & ABOUT: Something for everyone coming up outdoors May 27, 2012
- Two factors key to boat safety: Control alcohol, wear PFDs May 27, 2012
- Field reports: Pike netting continues on Pend Oreille River May 27, 2012
- Washington fish farm kills stock after virus found May 26, 2012 1
RedCedar on December 08 at 8:40 p.m.
It should be no surprise that “Discover” pass sales were way below expectations. They tried this experiment a few years ago with the same results. There are a lot of reasons for the lack of sales. Some people drive into the parks anyway, without a pass. Any serious attempt at enforcement would eat up any revenue the passes do generate. Some people park at the nearest free place and walk in. A few people probably switched to a bus or bicycle, while a great many just decided not to go to the state park. With all the free USFS, BLM, and DNR land in the state, and with all beaches open to the public even in front of private property, there are plenty of alternatives to state parks.
1sgdavo on December 11 at 3:20 p.m.
There is a recession going on, people use to go to the parks because it was cheap to do so for a family when there was no money to do anything else. Then the state said, hey lets tax it. So they did and now the poor do not have the disposable income to go to the parks. But we do have the DNR and BLM and USFS which sometimes has fees. This is what happens when you tax discretionary items. People choose to not use those services.