Funding For Washington State Parks

The Washington State Parks E-News for October 2024 just showed up in my e-mail. It is not spam and I do not consider it to be out of place in terms of keeping people informed.

One of the articles:

Winter Recreation Program announces closure of 14 motorized Sno-parks for 2024-25 season

“The Washington State Parks Winter Recreation Program will temporarily close fourteen motorized Sno-parks for the 2024-25 winter season, due primarily to a roughly 25 percent reduction in funds available from snowmobile registrations to support the motorized part of the program.”

“The snowmobile program is self-funded from snowmobile registration fees and a percentage of the gas tax. The program currently receives $94.20 per registered snowmobile. Funds are used to pay for services at motorized Sno-parks such as snow removal, sanitation, education, enforcement and trail grooming.”

“The number of registered snowmobiles has decreased by 52 percent over the past two decades, from a high of 38,331 in 2002 to 18,434 in 2024. The closures are for the 2024-25 winter season, pending future funding availability.”

I am not a snowmobile user. I use the parks for other activities. I prefer that all activities and access should remain open.

I have purchased the Discover Pass (or whatever it was called on day one) since it first came out. Still current on my daytime parking pass- more than two decades later. How much for a lifetime pass?

WA hatched a plan to stop citing people for expired tabs. Word goes out, we see more expired tabs. Each expired tab is a reminder to everyone that incentives are now removed to keep tabs current- the way it worked in the last century- before any daytime parking pass was invented for use of Washington State Parks.

More people drop out on paying for tabs. Snowmobile people are 200 miles from nowhere in the dead of winter and stop paying for tabs. The system is breaking down.

WA voters said Yes to $30 car tabs- twice. State said no.

Welcome Home Troops

Photo at top of page:

“We recently received the 2024 Rainbow Alliance and Inclusion Network (RAIN) Outstanding Agency Award in recognition of our commitment to creating inclusive and supportive environments for Queer joy and safety within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community!”

“The RAIN Outstanding Agency Award was created by RAIN to recognize state agencies (or specific programs within the agency) who have created/improved the safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for 2SLGBTQIA+ employees. These agencies were nominated by state employees and were voted on through an anonymous process by a panel of RAIN volunteers.”

Well done on the award. Who paid for the colorful banner in the photo?

To me, the parks always were for everyone. Group identities never need to come into play except for disabled parking permits/parking spots and whatever else is available in this regard.

Here is a recent photo I took:

Like something straight out of the 1970s.