Washington State Parks Headquarters

Doug Shepherd _{on Google}

May 7th, 2022

I dont know how long this has been going on, but in paying my tabs for my boat trailer there is an automated five dollar charge donated to the parks and it is up to us and our obligation to subtract this from the boldprint bill that you send. This is an absolutely appalling sneaky way to pry more money out of the public with no additional service. Nobody pays attention to the fine print, but we as the public need to revolt on this kind of behavior. We can afford to pay for millions of dollars toward other projects, but yet our public parks are so mismanaged that we have to sneak in added fees for you guys to operate. Absolutely appalling and shameful on your part. I pay hundreds of dollars in fees every year so that I can enjoy the outdoors. I will never pay the Parks now, with any of my voluntary contributions because of the sneaky behavior. Way to go parks department for supporting this with Washington state.

Pink _{on Google}

Oct 2nd, 2021

Best scenery I have seen since Lake Tahoe and the Colorado Rockies. Too expensive for condition/age of facilities in some parks. Can't beat the beauty!

Jesse Ray _{on Google}

Apr 25th, 2022

Embarrassment of an agency, just like the rest. After Washington restricted access to STATE PARKS (public property) during COVID, I requested a refund for my discover pass the state prevented me from using. I was offered a refund, which I accepted. The State Parks Communications Director Anna Gill told me the administrative cost to refund me would cost more than the refund itself, and the agency does not have enough funding to refund the public for they took without providing services (ie. theft).
So to recap: The state prevented the people from enjoying the outdoors, because of health/safety... ? Meanwhile the state accepted payment for the ability to enjoy PUBLIC lands and subsequently restricts access. I requested and was offered a refund, and then was later refused my refund by the "Communications Director" Anna Gill, representing the State of Washington.
Anna's response: "Most of our passholders purchase them because they support and value our state parks, and a $3 refund would not be worth the impact it would have on the system as a whole."
Dear Anna: Thanks for letting me know other users consider their purchase a "donation" and not a required cost to enjoy public lands. The reality is I would be ticketed for enjoying a state park without a discover pass. I purchased a discover pass to enjoy public property. You accepted my money, and subsequently refused to provide service- the definition of theft. It doesn't matter if its $3 or $300, theft is theft.
Just remember, Washington state prevented the people (under threat of arrest) from using and enjoying public lands, because of a virus that cannot exist without a host. Wal-mart and Costco are some of the largest warehouse operations in the world. They were never closed by the State of Washington, but the public forest is apparently way too dangerous to let the people recreate.