Gregoire proposing HUGE WA State park closure..

[bikedude127]

Sorry if this is a repost!!! Delete if necessary!!

This is atrocious... This is a copynpaste from my Facebook.. I heard about it also in the local paper.. Can you believe this shiz?? Cunstain Gregwhore wants to close up state parks!!! There are contact links and emails, and phone numbers.. ******* UNBELIEVABLE.. 3 just in my immediate area.. Lake Wenatchee State park, Alta Lake State park, (beautiful campground near Twisp WA) and Confluence State Park in Wenatchee WA.. Ya know, the MAIN access to the Columbia River here in Wenatchee??? Outrageous

*****

Our state parks are vital not only to quality of life, but local communities whose economies rely on the parks' tourism revenue.

As part of more than $10 million in state budget reductions, Washington State Parks has been asked to prepare a 22.9% cut for its 2009-11 budget.

This means the potential closing or transferring of up to 40 Washington State Parks. A park you love is almost certainly on the list:

http://tinyurl.com/closingparks

(a list and map of all WA State Parks on the chopping block - includes Ft. Ebey, Ft. Casey, Larrabee, Ft. Flagler, Illahee, Millersylvania, Mount Spokane, Peace Arch, Saltwater, St. Edward, Flaming Geyser, Lake Wenatchee and many other parks with hundreds of thousands of visitors each year)

Camp Moran Environmental Learning Center on Orcas Island is also on the list, but not specifically named in the proposal.

What you can do:

1. Send your thoughts, ideas and suggestions, succinctly, to:

Your district's state senator:

http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Senators/

Your district's state legislator:

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx

Governor Gregoire: http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/

The Director of State Parks: rex.derr@parks.wa.gov or:

PO Box 42650 Olympia, WA 98504-2650. The main office phone number for state parks is 360-902-8500.

Please read the Park District's initiatives for 2013 and keep their goals in mind when formulating your legislative letter.

http://www.parks.wa.gov/Centennial2013/

Are you willing to pay an annual state park user fee? Tell them.

Would you prefer to sacrifice spending in other areas? Tell them.

Will you volunteer your time to help maintain the parks? Tell them.

Do you prefer seasonal closures of the parks? Tell them.

Would you pay a voluntary fee, billed through driver's license renewal? Tell them.

2. Pass this group invitation along to friends and family who live in Washington, love the outdoors, or appreciate inexpensive recreation.

3. Post this group's URL on relevant pages - other facebook groups, online newspaper articles, hiking blogs, to help get the word out.

Park closures happened in Illinois, and it will happen in Washington unless citizens take action:

http://skinnymoose.com/adventurist/2...cal-landmarks/

The State Parks Commission will not make any final decisions until the Legislature approves a 2009-11 budget.

The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn April 26, and a special meeting of the commission will be called a week or two afterward.

That's at least 8 weeks to make a difference.

[tod701]

Closing 50 parks sounds like a scare tactic to me.

Another trick to get people to agree to raise taxes and/or fees.

If the crooks that run the state would quit spending more on other things there would be no reason to cut State Parks or any other department budget.

The state revenue shortfall is purely exessive spending, revenue for this year is about the same as last year.

Another game the legislature is playing to raid various dedicated accounts to balance the general budget. Our Nonhighway and Offroad Vehicle Activities (NOVA) funds are definately at risk.

[8675309]

Closing 50 parks sounds like a scare tactic to me.

Another trick to get people to agree to raise taxes and/or fees.

If the crooks that run the state would quit spending more on other things there would be no reason to cut State Parks or any other department budget.

The state revenue shortfall is purely exessive spending, revenue for this year is about the same as last year.

Another game the legislature is playing to raid various dedicated accounts to balance the general budget. Our Nonhighway and Offroad Vehicle Activities (NOVA) funds are definately at risk.

Closing 50 parks sounds like a scare tactic to me.

Another trick to get people to agree to raise taxes and/or fees.

its just like them to say things like this or the famous "we'll lay off law enforcement and set the prisoners free if you don't agree to tax increases"

[Chuck.]

Rather than cut goverment spending they throw out scare notices on hot button issues to get people excited enough that they will agree with tax increases.

[trailmeisterjoe]

What are the odds that the "fee" is dropped in the future when there is not a deficit and things are going ok?? Z-E-R-O

Joe

[tod701]

What are the odds that the "fee" is dropped in the future when there is not a deficit and things are going ok?? Z-E-R-O

Joe

I has actually happened, but its rare.

A few years back Washington State Parks started charging a day use few at a few locations. Pissed off enough people and the fee plan was dropped.

[shrubitup]

I live next to one of the state parks on the chopping list. Three minute walk in fact. The City's gonna be taking it over now. They figure they can operate it with 66% less costs. Something about the city's rangers not having all of the training that the state's rangers have. Perhaps the state's costs were indeed too high??? Maybe?

It's 150 acres, next to Puget Sound, steep slopes, a few trails scattered about, a few WWI gun bunkers from the former military use, PERFECT dirt biking but alas that would result directly in global warming.

I went sledding there this winter. We had enough snow at sea level due to all this warming action. Took my daughter down a steep hill and nearly took out a snow jogger. Trail etiquette I guess. ?

[cowboyona426]

I agree... this is a scare tactic. There are other ways to cut spending without closing the parks... email on the way shortly.