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Beacon Rock Update - 1/24/06
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No more $5 parking fee - YEAH!!!

Wash. Legislature repeals parking fees at state parks

Seattle residents and other people visiting Washington's 120 state parks will no longer have to pay daily parking fees.

On Monday, Gov. Chris Gregoire signed a bill to repeal the fees that started in 2003. In a statement, she said the law helps keep the parks accessible to Washington state families.

Under previous parking rules, visitors had to pay a $5 daily fee or a $50 annual fee, according to the state parks system.

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission had required these fees to help keep the locations open and to maintain them, said Rex Derr, state parks director. Around 2003, he said, the state was undergoing a financial crunch.

The parking fees, he added, raised about $4 million each year. Fees for watercraft launching and trailer dumping are still required.

State lawmakers still need to find a replacement for this source of money, Gregoire said.

"But this work is not yet complete. I look forward to working with the legislature to put forward an alternative revenue source that is ample, sustainable, and reliable during the next legislative session," she said


Peregrine Monitoring

We will be cranking up Peregrine monitoring any time now so if you are interested in helping out give a shout...

Joseph Healy
Beacon Rock Climbers' Association
Beacon.Rock@AvaSys.com