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THE BIG TENT FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION
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The mission  of the Big Tent  is to promote sustainable, diverse, equitable, and inclusive outdoor experiences in Washington state through advocacy and education.

#RecreateResponsibly to Protect Yourself, Others, and the Outdoors

During this public health crisis, spending time in outdoor spaces has become even more important for many Americans. Yet these unusual circumstances mean that all of us, from seasoned outdoor enthusiasts to families heading out to their local park for the first time, could use a little guidance about how to stay safe. The Recreate Responsibly guidelines offer a starting point for getting outside to keep yourself healthy and to maintain access to our parks, trails, and beaches. [ LEARN MORE ]


 

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Expect Higher Fees, Limited Access to Popular Recreation Spots in 2015

The News Tribune

It’s the first weekend of the NFL playoffs, so the most pressing outdoor issue on your mind is probably, “Can I squeeze in a side trip to the Grand Canyon on the way to Glendale, Arizona, to watch the Seahawks play in the Super Bowl?”

Well, if you don’t do it now, you’ll pay for it later. The cost to visit national parks will likely increase by 67 percent in 2015.

Outdoor recreation in state yields $22 billion in spending

The Associated Press

— A new state study finds that people in Washington spend nearly $22 billion each year hiking, skiing, boating, golfing, and in other outdoor pursuits.

The report released Thursday estimates that residents spend on average about 56 days a year on outdoor recreational activities. And they spend money while doing so — on hotels, recreational equipment, food and other items.

Big Tent Beginnings

If you’re looking for the time the “Big Tent Outdoor Coalition” drew its first breath, leap back to Spring 2012.  We were fresh off legislative sessions where the Washington Wildlife & Recreation Program (WWRP) had to fight to survive in a 2011-13 biennial budget, and funding had been diverted from dedicated recreational accounts in the 2012 supplemental budget process.  I sat in a meeting room with Kaleen Cottingham, the Director of the Recreation & Conservation Office, wondering how outdoor recreation could grow a louder and more formative voice in the State Capital.

State Parks - Making Lemonade out of Budget Lemons‏

Governor Inslee released his proposed budget for the 2015-17 biennium.  After all the hoo-rah over the Governor’s Outdoor Recreation Task Force, after the Governor’s appeal to his Task Force for a plan for sufficient and sustainable funding for our state parks, I can only state that Governor Inslee’s proposed budget for State Parks is a major disappointment.

Governor's 2015-2017 Budget Proposal for State Parks

(A message from Director Hoch to State Parks staff)  The Governor rolled out his 2015-17 state Budget, with the theme, “Reinvesting in Washington.”  To balance his state Operating budget, he included $400 million in cuts and savings and additional proposed funding from new revenue sources.

Special to The Spokesman-Review: Our outdoors needs continued investment

November 8, 2014

The Inland Northwest needs comprehensive solutions to ensure the high-quality outdoor access we have come to expect. Spokane joins many other communities across 33 counties asking for state grants to complete more than 200 projects ranging from preserving working farms to protecting hunting and fishing access, improving our state parks, and building trails and neighborhood playgrounds.

Governor's Blue Ribbon Task Force on Parks and Outdoor Recreation

Gov. Jay Inslee established the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Parks and Outdoor Recreation through Executive Order 14-01 to develop an action plan and recommendations to manage, transform, better leverage, or develop Washington’s outdoor recreation assets and state programs to increase outdoor recreation activities as well as promote the jobs and business associated with outdoor recreation.

State Parks - Post Election, Pre-Budget Release Update

The mid-term elections are over, although a bit of ballot counting remains.  The State Senate will remain much as is, with 25 Republicans and one maverick Democrat, and the State House will narrow to 51 Democrats and 47 Republicans.  Each majority has only one vote to spare.

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Washington State's Outdoor Recreation Economy Generates

View the 2020 Economic Analysis of Outdoor Recreation in Washington State for details