| Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission | |
|---|---|
| Logo in use for 2013 centennial | |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1913 |
| Headquarters | 1111 Israel Road S.W., Olympia, Washington[1] |
| Annual budget | $76 million ($152 million for 2009-11 biennium)[1] |
| Website | |
| www.parks.wa.gov | |
The Washington State Park System is a set of state parks owned by the state government of Washington, USA. They are managed by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. As of 2011, the parks are primarily funded through the state's general fund, augmented by usage fees. There are over 100 parks throughout the state, including 21 marine parks.
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The park system was established in 1913 by the creation of the Washington State Board of Park Commissioners. The first two parks were formed from donated land in 1915, and by 1929 the state had seven parks. In 1947 the State Parks Committee was renamed to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and given authority to oversee the state park system. By 1960 the number of state parks had increased to 130.
Park Rangers are full-authority law enforcement officers while they are on State Park lands. Park Rangers attend either the Parks Law Enforcement Academy (PLEA) held each winter/spring at Skagit Valley Community College or the Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) at the Criminal Justice Training Center. Park Rangers are dispatched by the Washington State Patrol.
In 2003, the Washington State Legislature introduced a $5-a-day parking fee, meant to fund park-related construction projects; more than a quarter of the fees collected went into the fee-collection system itself.[2] Park use decreased more than 15% under the fees. The fee was rescinded in early 2006, returning the state park system to its status of the only system in the West without day-use fees.[3][4]
In 2011, the State Legislature passed SB 5622, which created a $10 day-use permit and a $30 annual pass for vehicles to enter state parks and other recreational lands owned or managed by the Washington Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.[5]