Next week some of the many people who value the vital public resources that are our state parks, trails and wilderness areas, will take the battle to Olympia. The “battle” refers to the very real threat that some of our most popular recreation areas, including the trails at Mount Si and Little Si, will close down due to a lack of funding from the state government.
More than 20 trail systems and campgrounds operated by the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are facing closure under Gov. Chris Gregoire’s supplemental budget released in January. Required by law to present a budget that balances without the introduction of new revenue sources, DNR was just one of many agencies marked for significant budget cuts.
Its general-fund balance, which pays for things such as trail maintenance, replacing signs, and maintaining picnic tables and outhouses, is expected to run out late next month, already under-strength thanks to a 50 percent budget cut last year.
As well as Mount Si and Little Si, included on the list of trails facing closure are the trails at Rattlesnake Lake, and on the Snoqualmie River.
On Wednesday, Feb. 10, concerned citizens and outdoor recreation groups will gather in Olympia to ask the 2010 Legislature to find the $276,000 necessary to keep the recreation areas open.
Fran Troje of the Issaquah-based Foothills Branch of the Mountaineers told The Reporter the effects of any closures would be felt strongly by local residents.
“Yes, Foothills members, and the recreating public is going to be affected if Department of Natural Resources does not get a mechanism to fund ‘recreation,’” she wrote. “Mt. Si and Little Si are favorites of not only locals, but weekend hikers from other cities, and when the daylight savings time kicks in, evening workouts for folks wanting extreme exercising.”
The two Si trails receive more than 500,000 visits each year, estimates show.
The public is encouraged to join in on Feb. 10, for what is being billed as Parks and Recreation Rally Day. Anyone wanting to join the delegation to Olympia can e-mail cpr4parks@yahoo.com for more information.
Meanwhile, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission (SPRC) is reporting the state parks donation program tied to vehicle license tab renewals is bringing in less than projected.
The SPRC report to the state Office of Financial Management and legislature said that while revenue is just enough to keep state parks open, they will be forced to close parks if any additional general fund reductions are proposed in the Governor’s 2010 Supplemental Budget.
Bill 2339, signed into law in July 2009, required the Department of Licensing to collect a donation to benefit the state parks system as part of motor vehicle registration applications or renewals, unless a vehicle owner chooses not to provide the donation.
The legislation was a response to the state’s dire economic situation and a groundswell of public outcry to the Legislature opposing proposed budget reductions that would have resulted in the closure of up to 40 parks.
The budget stipulated that state parks would remain open so long as adequate donations were collected.
“So far, the donations are coming in under the line of what’s needed, but we’re squeaking by,” said SPRC director Rex Derr. “The Commission is optimistic about the program because we know how much people love their state parks. We’re very grateful to the Legislature for the program.”
The enacted 2009-11 state biennial budget reduced State Parks’ General Fund budget by a total of $52 million, about half of their General Fund.
For more information on possible trails and parks closures in your area, go to the Washington Trails Association Web site at www.wta.org/savednrlands., e-mail WTA Advocacy Director Jonathan Guzzo at jonathan@wta.org., or phone 206-625-1367.
