State lawmaker looking to be rid of park fees

OLYMPIA - Washington state has a lot of parks and outdoor recreation areas that require people to either pay for an annual $30 Discover Pass or $10 daily passes to visit certain areas including Washington State Parks such as Palouse Falls, Steptoe Butte, Riverside State Park, Steamboat Rock, etc.

Rep. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, wants to eliminate those fees, and recently proposed House Bill 1824 in order to possibly make outdoor recreation more affordable to families.

The main goal of House Bill 1824 is to create equal opportunities for families to enjoy park space, and the bill states, "For the benefit of public health and environmental stewardship, the legislature finds that outdoor recreation should be encouraged and made affordable for all."

According to the bill, the Legislature found that more than $1 million passes were sold in 2018, stating residents spent over $23, million total on Discover passes.

The bill says people are naturally healthier when they have access to outdoor recreation, and also that residents tend to care for the outdoor areas they frequently visit.

The bill says the incalculable and long-lasting impacts will be the fact that Washington residents that participate in outdoor recreation will build strong family and community relationships, and in turn, live a healthier lifestyle in general.

The Legislature will carry the cost of funding state parks and outdoor recreation according to the bill, but residents should still be able to donate to park funds if they choose to do so. Opportunities to donate are made when residents typically renew vehicle registrations.