Washington State's Outdoor Recreation Economy Generates

The NPS has undertaken a campground modernization strategy to ensure our second century of NPS campgrounds supports both visitors and employees. As part of this effort, an internal NPS team has developed draft design guidelines to centralize campground design information. These include details on spatial requirements for expanding campsites to accommodate RV use and guidelines on how to meet accessibility codes while maintaining cultural resource integrity. The guide will be a clearinghouse of best practices and design resources for all National Park Service staff and private contractors including planners, designers, superintendents, maintenance staff, concessioners and partners. All public comment will need to be entered in PEPC by 12/4/20.  The National Park Service Campground Development Guide has been posted on the Planning, Environment Public Comment (PEPC) page for public external review. This time can also be used for additional internal review. All comments should be posted on PEPC.  We would appreciate your review and input on the guide.  Project Page

Saturday is National Public Lands Day, and this year it seems more important than ever to celebrate the outdoors. Our wild places and nearby green spaces have provided much needed solace during the coronavirus pandemic, and as a result, parks and trails are getting a lot more use. Now, it’s time to pay it back to our public lands by pitching in to pick up trash, protecting Icicle Canyon climbing areas, and speaking up for more outdoor recreation opportunities to meet increased demand. The smoke and wildfires of the past few weeks have weighed heavily on our hearts and minds. Hear about how wildfires and other effects of climate change are impacting the places we love - and what you can do to help - by attending a special conversation with Conrad Anker this Thursday. And with perhaps no place more affected by climate change than the Arctic, we also encourage you to learn more about our conservation imprint Braided River’s legacy of protecting this wild landscape through books and impact campaigns. -Betsy Robblee, Conservation and Advocacy Director

The Washington Wildlife & Recreation Coalition week-long Celebration of Community & Conservation begins today.  Visit www.WildlifeRecreation.org at noon each day to check out what's new.

Washington's outdoor community thanks our WA congressional delegation for passing the Great American Outdoors Act! Thank you Senator Cantwell, Senator Patty Murray, Rep. Derek Kilmer, Rep. Suzan DelBene, Rep. Denny Heck, Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Rep. Rick Larsen, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Rep. Kim Schrier, and Rep. Adam Smith. Thanks to your efforts, Washington communities, visitors, and businesses will benefit for years to come. You’ve made Washington proud! https://youtu.be/9Bp1xlIDkhw

So, you want to save Washington’s economy? Well then get out of town and go jump in a lake. A new report from Tacoma nonprofit Earth Economics shows that prior to the pandemic, people spent $26.5 billion on outdoor recreation in Washington; and with new research indicating that outdoor activities are much safer than indoor, investing in the state’s natural resources could help dig us out of the horrible economic catastrophe that’s looming over us all.