I am furious that this state is, once again, implementing day use fees for our state parks! (Article, “State parks visitors face $30 annual fee.“) No longer will we be visiting any state park come July 1.
One idea that needs to be mentioned is to make available a lifelong “senior pass” for a single fee — one that’s lower than the $30 annual pass! Come on, Gov. Chris, help the seniors out if you have to impose a fee to visit Washington State Parks!
One park should be exempt from these day use fees: Peace Arch State Park in Blaine. This beautiful park, come July 1, will only be visited by Canadians! Why do I say that? Canadians have their own parking lot on their side of the border, like we do on our side of the border. The park involves both U.S. land and Canadian land that visitors are free to roam on within the confines of the park, without having to cross either border. Part of the park involves crossing the road leading to the border crossing into Canada to get to the Peace Arch itself. Why will we have to pay to visit our own park, when Canadians will get to enjoy the beauty of this park for free? Um, excuse me? Or, I should say, excuse you?
As for the $5 optional fee for state parks on our license renewals? Forget it now!! That fee should have been made mandatory instead of what will happen come July 1.
Linda Solbeck
Burlington
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