Cutbacks May Close State Parks State May Shut Down 41 Parks To Meet Tighter Budget Next Year

Sat., Sept. 5, 1998

From Staff

The popular Moses Lake State Park is among the 41 facilities the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is considering closing to meet potential budget cuts next year.

Parks Director Cleve Pinnix on Friday lamented the need to close any parks, but said it might be necessary to cut 7 percent of his agency’s budget next year, as requested by Gov. Gary Locke.

The parks commission also is expecting to earn $2 million less than a revenue target set by the Legislature, the agency said.

Unless the Legislature bails out the department, 17 parks must be closed to meet the shortfall. On the list is the Moses Lake park, visited by 340,000 people last year.

Also slated for closure is Crawford Caves State Park near Northport, home of the largest limestone cave in Washington.

“The idea of possibly having to close parks is horrendous,” Pinnix said in a statement. “For many families, state parks are the places they go to unwind from urban pressures. State parks are the places they visited as children, establishing family traditions. … State parks are in people’s family scrapbooks. To close a single park would be a tragedy.”

A citizens panel appointed last month to evaluate the parks chose a list of 41 for possible closure, scoring them for popularity, activities offered, the economic impact on local communities, and cultural, historical and geographical significance.

It also judged them on expense, weighing operating cost versus revenue produced through camping fees.

The commission will review the list and take public comment at a Sept. 17 meeting in Vancouver.

Spokane’s Clyde Anderson, a member of the governing park commission, said he argued to stave off closure of any of the popular Spokane area parks.

He welcomes public input prior to the Sept. 17 meeting.

“Each park has to stand on its own merits,” said Anderson. “That’s why there’s going to be a lot of second guessing.”

Under one budget-cutting alternative, a worst-case scenario, the road to Mt. Spokane’s summit would be closed during the summer, and the parks commission would cease some maintenance on the Centennial Trail.

The proposed closure of Moses Lake troubles the town’s mayor, Richard Pearce. The park is a lakeside gem with a boat launch and beach.

“It’s well-used, it’s close to the city,” said Pearce. “We certainly don’t want to lose it.”

The city will talk to the state commission about taking over the park, Pearce said.

Parks list Associated Press OLYMPIA Here is a list of the state parks being proposed for closure to meet potential budget cuts next year. Environmental learning centers would remain open at some of the parks slated for potential closure. Parks to be closed to meet a $2 million budget cut: Bridle Trails, King County Crawford, Pend Oreille County Doug’s Beach, Klickitat County Fields Spring, Asotin County Fort Columbia, Pacific County Fort Ward, Kitsap County Goldendale Observatory, Klickitat County Lewis and Clark, Lewis County Moses Lake, Grant County Mukilteo, Snohomish County Nolte, King County Olallie, King County Peace Arch, Whatcom County Sacajawea, Franklin County Schafer, Mason County Squak Mountain Trail Access, King County Tolmie, Thurston County Additional parks to be closed to meet a $3 million budget cut: Bogachiel, Clallam County Conconully, Okanogan County Fay Bainbridge, Kitsap County Potlatch, Mason County Kopachuck, Pierce County Rockport, Skagit County Spencer Spit, San Juan County Wallace Falls, Snohomish County Additional parks to be closed to meet a $5 million budget cut: Brooks Memorial, Klickitat County Centennial Trail (reduced maintenance), Spokane County Central Ferry, Whitman County Crow Butte, Benton County Daroga, Douglas County Federation Forest, King County Horsethief Lake, Klickitat County Lewis and Clark Trail, Columbia County Lyons Ferry, Franklin County Mount Spokane (summit road access closed in summer), Spokane County Palouse Falls, Franklin County Peshastin Pinnacles, Chelan County Rainbow Falls, Lewis County Saint Edward, King County Sequim Bay, Clallam County South Whidbey, Island County

Staff writer Jonathan Martin contributed to this report.

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