Washington State Parks turns 102 years old on Thursday, March 19, and visitors are invited to help celebrate by getting out to enjoy a state park for free that day.
With the 2015 spring and summer seasons just around the corner, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission reminds the public that there are recreation opportunities available in more than 100 parks, trails and recreation sites all over the state.
March 19 is the third of 12 state parks “free days” scheduled for 2015, when visitors are not required to display the Discover Pass to visit a park.
“These free days are great way for people to explore a new park or return to an old favorite,” said Commission Chair Pat Lantz of Gig Harbor.
Free days are in keeping with legislation that created the Discover Pass, a $30 annual or $10 one-day permit required on recreation lands managed by Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The legislation provided that state parks could designate up to 12 “free days” each year when the pass would not be required to visit state parks.
The remaining 2015 State Parks free days are:
- Saturday, April 4;
- Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22;
- Sunday, May 10;
- National Trails Day, Saturday, June 6;
- National Get Outdoors Day, Saturday, June 13;
- National Park Service’s 99th birthday, Tuesday, Aug. 25;
- National Public Lands Day, Saturday, Sept. 26; and
- Veterans Day, Wednesday Nov. 11.
For more information, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.
