SGJKKing
Bellingham, WA
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Wa RVers (and any vistors) that use the State Parks. Please go to the State Park Online Site(http://www.parks.wa.gov), then go to current information, look at the article $23 million reduction could mean mothballing state parks.doc. Budget cuts are going to affect the State Parks. Some of the State Parks that are in jeopardy of being mothballed...Maryhill, Twin Harbor, Ocean City, Fort Ebey, Wenatchee Confluence, Lake Wenatchee and Fort Casey. We personally know that when trying to get reservations at these State Parks we have a hard time because they are full. Does it make sense to close parks that are busy? Makes you scratch your head and go what are they thinking?
Please take time to send an email to the State Park Office and speak up. If we don't speak up we will loose RVing Resources. The email address is pao@parks.wa.gov.
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Joined: 07/22/2007
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I understand your concerns but what is your plan to go give the state the money to operate the WA state parks?
What proof is there the state will have any net savings from closing the parks?
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mockturtle
Northwest
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Joined: 05/31/2005
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I have already written to my state legislators about this but will also e-mail the parks department. If Washington had run its parks like Oregon does theirs, they would have higher usage and might pay for themselves. Instead, they have simultaneously let the maintenance slide and raised the prices. 
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Lincoln4
Buckley, WA
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mockturtle wrote:I have already written to my state legislators about this but will also e-mail the parks department. If Washington had run its parks like Oregon does theirs, they would have higher usage and might pay for themselves. Instead, they have simultaneously let the maintenance slide and raised the prices.
I agree that Oregon has better facilities for sure, and at a better price. Just camped at Valley of the Rogue Campground for three nights. 50amp power, water, hot showers, clean grounds, peace and quiet,and sewer for $16. For $24 in our State Parks you get 30 amp power, water, crappy coin operated showers, dirty wore out grounds, inebriated partying neighbors, and sewer if you're lucky.
This is simply our State's normal way of doing business. Cut popular programs instead of unneeded social programs. When the public complains, taxes must be raised to maintain current levels of blah, blah, blah...
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alpenliter
Olympia WA
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"This is simply our State's normal way of doing business. Cut popular programs instead of unneeded social programs. When the public complains, taxes must be raised to maintain current levels of blah, blah, blah..."
________________________________________________________________
I agree Tom. This state is overloaded on social programs and whenever their is a budget shortfall, Olympia starts threatening childrens health, parks and recreation. When you look at our 9 Billion dollar budget deficit vs our population base, you realize that we are worse off than California. You can be sure I will be writing my representative.
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garyhaupt
Kitimat, BC, Canada, Mile '0' of Alaska HiWay #37
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They propose closing Ft Casey? You MUST be joking? That park is close to full most every day of the year..ok ok, I exaggerate some, but man, that park is SO heavily used. That just blows me away.
Gary Haupt
Further on edit...many users are enjoying the various senior passes that US citizens enjoy, so no, the park is not getting it's 'full' camp fee from a high % of users. I don't see a way around that.
Also..it was my belief that the park keeper uppers were also doing work in the Ft Casey park itself and the campground was more of an adjunct to that. I would venture a guess that the suggested closing of Casey is as much posturing as budget cutting. The again..I thought winter was over..and was wrong about that too.
* This post was
edited 04/04/09 09:52am by garyhaupt *
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Gary do you think the park would be has full if the park users fully paid their way?
If a state is loosing money keeping up a park it would seem they could help their budgets in both directions at the same time by closing down the parks. One would be reducing expenses. Second they would increase income by helping the private camp grounds to be profitable and therefore be tax payers. 
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Jack in Alaska
Anchorage & Ninilchik, Alaska
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We use Confluence State Park in Wenatchee several times a year on our way south or north from Alaska to Arizona and back.
It is a nice park, seems to be almost always full but is relatively expensive compared to other state parks.
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longtrailer48
Kent, WA
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Joined: 10/12/2007
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SGJKKing wrote:Wa RVers (and any vistors) that use the State Parks. Please go to the State Park Online Site(http://www.parks.wa.gov), then go to current information, look at the article $23 million reduction could mean mothballing state parks.doc. Budget cuts are going to affect the State Parks. Some of the State Parks that are in jeopardy of being mothballed...Maryhill, Twin Harbor, Ocean City, Fort Ebey, Wenatchee Confluence, Lake Wenatchee and Fort Casey. We personally know that when trying to get reservations at these State Parks we have a hard time because they are full. Does it make sense to close parks that are busy? Makes you scratch your head and go what are they thinking?
Please take time to send an email to the State Park Office and speak up. If we don't speak up we will loose RVing Resources. The email address is pao@parks.wa.gov.
I take issue with the post heading "Save the State Parks". They don't need saving, they are already operating. This is a ploy, and you have given into it. Don't give her another nickel...overspending created this situation. Create enough fear and people will do most anything...including paying more taxes.
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JoeChiOhki
Sauvie Island, OR
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Why Fort Ebey? I can see Fort Casey, the campground is a bare lot right next to the Port Townsend Ferry. Fort Ebey is fairly nice by comparison. I mean, damn if you're going to close some, close the crummy ones, like Dash Point.
I like Fort Ebey, its the only park near Coupeville, I didn't get a chance to explore it like I wanted back in January.
Personally, I don't come to Washington during the Summer anymore, its just way too crowded and noisy to enjoy. Its far nicer in Fall and Winter. When I want to visit Seattle, we just stay at the Kent KOA, its a bit pricey, but its got a better location for visiting the city, far less driving.
Sadly, this is just more of Gregoire and her Epic degree of stupidity.....
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