The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has announced three public meeting workshops, including one in Grays Harbor, relating to the establishment of Recreation Business Activity (RBA) zones in state parks.

Recreation Business Activity zones are areas for potential development of park visitor amenities such as cabins or food service, by private business or other outside entities.

Washington State Parks says the purpose of the zones is not to privatize the park system, but rather to provide park visitor amenities that are beyond State Parks’ financial capacity, while generating lease revenue to help operate the park system.

The truth is we had decided to do a fish-in instead of a shootout this year. We thought it might be easier during the short 60 day session. The shootout was so popular among legislators and staff that we had to add it back in so now we are doing both! 

Today, Monday, is President Day and kids are out of school and many come to the Olympia campus. Have we got a treat for them! Troutlodge is bringing a portable pool and 400 fish. Plenty of rods and wonderful volunteers will be helping.
 

Thanks to all of you who came to the 4th Annual Big Tent Rally Day and made the event such a success!   Photo gallery history of all four Rally Days now on the Big Tent flickr.

OLYMPIA – Governor Jay Inslee, mountaineering legend Jim Whittaker, former Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann, and State Senators Andy Hill (R-Redmond) and Kevin Ranker (D-Orcas Island) along with State Representative Tana Senn (D-Mercer Island) will headline a rally of outdoor recreation businesses, vendors, non-profit groups, and local and state agencies on Wednesday, Feb. 3.  The rally will spotlight Washington’s outdoor recreation sector that generates $22 billion  in revenue and nearly 200,000 direct jobs throughout urban and rural Washington.