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Washington State Parks to Increase Camping, Boating Fees

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is deliberating on proposals to increase fees for campers and boaters using state park facilities. This adjustment aims to address the financial strains caused by inflation and maintain the operational standards of state parks.

According to Darleen Simkins, a business insights analyst at the department, the fee hikes are a necessary balance between generating needed revenue and keeping the parks accessible to the public. “We really try to balance access with the revenue that we need to run the parks,” Simkins told commissioners during a meeting on Wednesday.

Under the proposed changes, camping fees could rise by up to $6. The adjustments vary by the type of campsite and the season. Currently, a basic campsite without utilities costs $32 during the peak season, which runs from May through September. With the proposed increase, the fee would jump to $37. For campsites with full utilities, including electric, water, and sewer hookups, the new fee during peak season would be $56.

These fees represent a significant portion of the revenue for State Parks, with camping fees bringing in approximately $23 million in 2020 from more than 6,400 sites.

Commissioner Ken Bounds highlighted the urgency of revising the fee structure to cope with ongoing inflation. “Inflation continues to go up, and while it might be a shocker to the customer, it’s going to be a shocker to us to not be able to recoup those costs,” he said.

The need for fee adjustments in Washington is consistent with trends in neighboring states. Idaho, for example, doubled its entry and campsite fees for non-residents at some popular parks three years ago, and Oregon began charging non-residents 25% more for RV sites two years ago.

Moreover, the commission is considering updates to the fees for boating activities, which have not been revised in nearly ten years. The proposal sets a uniform launching fee of $7 for all watercraft at all state parks. The daily moorage fee would see an increase from $15 to $23, and the annual moorage rate would rise from $60 to $80 per vessel. Despite these increases, the rates are still below those charged by private facilities.

As per a Washington State Standard report via the Kitsap Sun, the projected additional revenue from the increased camping and boating fees is estimated at $3.12 million and $200,000 annually, respectively. While these increments will not cover the entire cost of maintaining park facilities, they will help mitigate some of the financial shortfalls.

Approval of the new fee structure is pending a final decision by Diana Dupuis, the director of the State Parks and Recreation Commission. Dupuis is expected to approve the changes this month, with implementation set for reservations made for the year 2025.

As part of the long-term strategy to keep state park fees aligned with economic conditions and operational needs, the commission is also developing a plan to review and adjust fees every two years. This periodic review will ensure that the fees reflect the current economic landscape and fund requirements for maintaining park quality and accessibility.

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Hi, you might find this article from Modern Campground interesting: Washington State Parks to Increase Camping, Boating Fees! This is the link: https://moderncampground.com/usa/washington/washington-state-parks-to-increase-camping-boating-fees/