With more than 40 million visitors annually, Washington’s state parks system is among the most popular in the nation. But demand for our parks has outpaced resources. Limited government funding and population growth make support for Washington’s state parks more important than ever.

Gov. Gregoire proposed no general revenue for State Parks in her budget.  The only option to preserve our cherished system of State Parks, which turned 98 years old last week, is a revenue package.  So, the choice is stark … close 100+ of our 119 State Parks or charge a user fee. 

Sen. Kevin Ranker, along with Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, led the efforts to fund State Parks through a $30 annual Discover Pass.  The Discover Pass allows the holder to access all State Parks, Fish & Wildlife, and Dept. of Natural Resource lands.  The pass is estimated to generate $71 million for outdoor recreation in Washington, with 84% of the revenue going to State Parks.  Alternatively, the cost for a single day pass would be $10 per vehicle. More information is at http://discoverpass.wa.gov.

Unfortunately, even with the Discover Pass in place, revenues are not projected to be enough to cover even basic operations at the level Washingtonians have had in the past. We invite you to join us in making our great parks even better. With your help, we can continue the legacy of giving that built one of the most beloved parks systems in the nation. This legacy includes a large number of state parks that have been donated from individuals. We need your help to keep this legacy intact.