Forks’ mayor is relieved that state legislative action will keep Bogachiel State Park open.
The park on the banks of the Bogachiel River six miles south of Forks was on a list of nearly 40 state parks slated for transfer to another governmental entity or closure to save Washington State Parks $23 million.
State parks now are to be funded through an “opt out” measure in which people renewing their car or truck registrations will be charged a $5 donation toward state park operations unless they check a box to opt out of the donation.
Mayor ‘very pleased’
“I’m very pleased,” Mayor Nedra Reed said. “On behalf of the community, I’m very pleased that Bogachiel will remain open.”
The camping and fishing area, which was the only state park in the West End of both Clallam and Jefferson counties, was one of three in the North Olympic Peninsula that was on the list, the others being Old Fort Townsend near Port Townsend and Fort Flagler on Marrowstone Island.
The Legislature approved the opt-out measure last month after grappling with budget cuts to balance a projected $5.1 billion state deficit. The measure takes effect Sept. 1.
“No parks will close this summer,” state parks spokeswoman Sandy Mealing told the Daily Olympian.
The funding measure was approved by the state Legislature as part of the 2009-2011 state budget that awaits Gov. Chris Gregoire’s signature.
It includes enough money to keep parks open, if the money comes in.
“We’re hopeful and very grateful to have this new revenue source, but it has no track record,” said State Parks spokeswoman Virginia Painter on Wednesday.
Parks remaining open
“What we have been saying is, for the time being, parks are remaining open,” said Painter.
“We just have to see how that new program measures out.”
The agency still will have to make cuts.
Painter said that the parks system would lay off at least 36 people and close the Puget Sound Region office in Auburn to help balance its budget.
A final decision on employee cutbacks will come during a State Parks Commission meeting May 19, Mealing said.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do to figure out how we are going to manage things,” Painter said.
The parks system had already lost many positions through attrition, she said, and now the agency would try “to live within our means until we see how we do.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
