Yakima's popular state park imperiled

YAKIMA, WASH. -- When out-of-towners wander into Fairbanks Outfitters on Yakima Avenue, the owner asks them where they're staying.

"They say all the time that they're at Sportsman's," said Gary Fairbanks. "They've got their fifth wheel or their tent trailer and that's where they go."

Fairbanks is talking about Yakima Sportsman State Park, 247 acres of hiking, camping, fishing and bird watching just off Keys Road on a floodplain of the Yakima River.

In the high season, the park attracts nearly 221,474 people, filling 276 camp sites and generating customers for local business owners like Fairbanks.

Despite its popularity, Sportsman is one of 32 state parks in jeopardy of being mothballed as early as this summer because of the economic recession, which continues to eat away at state revenues.

Other Central Washington parks on the list include Maryhill in Klickitat County and Lake Easton and Ginkgo/Wanapum parks in Kittitas County.

Legislators today will get a clearer, though not necessarily improved, picture of their options when the state Revenue Forecast Council releases its quarterly estimate for the next two years.

The new budget will be written against this forecast, which has steadily worsened each quarter.

Democratic leaders in the state House recently asked the state Parks and Recreation Commission to draft a picture of what the park system would look like after another $23 million budget cut.

Previously, about $10 million in cuts were identified and include closing or transferring 13 other parks and cutting staff and programs. There are 121 parks in the state system.

Because a state parks system is mostly just that -- park land -- agency officials had little choice but to come up with the mothballing plan, said spokeswoman Virginia Painter.

Gates would be locked, restrooms shuttered and hook-ups turned off. People could still enter on foot and picnic and, hopefully, pick up after themselves.

The Parks Commission would honor any reservations already made through Sept. 15, but other parks could close sooner.

Closing Yakima Sportsman State Park would still leave Yakima County with one state park, Fort Simcoe. But Fort Simcoe, located on the Yakama Reservation near White Swan, has no overnight camping. The closest full-service state parks include Sacajawea near Pasco and Wanapum However, both also are on the list of 32 parks.

There are no other full-service state parks less than 100 miles from Yakima.

Nothing is certain until legislators write a budget for the 2009-2011 biennium. The Legislature has to pass a budget by April 26, the last day of the 2009 session.

Democrats want to increase spending in the next budget, but to pay for it they need to make up an estimated $8.3 billion shortfall.

One legislator, Rep. Janéa Holmquist, R-Moses Lake, said the shortfall is really only $1.5 billion if Democrats would reduce what she calls their "new, expensive policies."

Holmquist said state parks generate about $1.2 billion annually and raise $34 million per year in state tax receipts.

"All of these parks, as well as others in our area, are crucial to our schools and families," Holmquist said.

Fans of Sportsman are worried that even temporary park closures will prove shortsighted because mothballing has costs: weeds will take over trails; grassy areas will overgrow and die; poachers could kill wildlife with impunity and reckless visitors could start fires and cause other damage borne of mischief.

"Sportsman is a gem that many cities would fight to have," said Al Allaway, a volunteer in charge of trails and interpretive programs.

"It would be a shame if Yakima has it and lets it go."

The agency developed the mothball list by starting with parks that cost more than $300,000 to operate over a two-year period.

Sportsman costs $330,637 a year to operate. If mothballed, officials say the savings would be $219,385 a year. The difference represents overhead -- minimal maintenance and security -- that remains with any fixed asset.

On the list of 32 parks, Sportsman ranks 13th in visitation, just ahead of Maryhill State Park, which is on the Columbia River in Klickitat County.

Klickitat is already slated to lose Brooks Memorial State Park, one of 13 designated for closure or possible transfer to city or county government in the first round of cuts.

So far, no one in the Legislature has proposed to establish day fees at state parks as a way to defray their cost. When the 2003 Legislature, facing its own shortfall, imposed a $5-a-day parking fee at state parks, attendance declined statewide. At 69 percent, Sportsman saw one of the biggest drops. The 2006 Legislature eliminated the day fee.

But legislators haven't ruled out property taxes as a way to pay for state parks.

Senate Bill 6120 would create a state property tax levy dedicated to maintenance, preservation and renovation of parks. Voters would have to approve the measure, which would levy one cent per $1,000 of assessed value per year. The tax would generate about $44 million over six years, when it would sunset. The tax collections would start in 2010, so voters would have to consider the issue this year.

But the bill hasn't even had a hearing yet, a sign that raising taxes is not high on the Legislature's list of remedies this year.

Even less likely is Senate Joint Resolution 8216, which would amend the state constitution to redirect some property tax revenue from schools to parks.

Parks supporters are suggesting that the state could raise money by copying Montana's license-plate program. Montana drivers can choose to buy specially designed parks and environment plates. The fees are dedicated to the park or environmental group of their choice.

In the meantime, people like Renee Thomas of Yakima, who has memories of many outings to Sportsman State Park as a child, say this is no time to close a park.

"As incomes become squeezed, and families are looking for a place to create memories, what will we offer?" Thomas said.

"Where will we be without our community state park in Yakima?"

* Leah Beth Ward can be reached at 577-7626 or lward@yakimaherald.com.

Parks in jeopardyof being mothballed

Jarrell Cove

Fields Spring

Federation Forest

Sacajawea

Rainbow Falls

Beacon Rock

Lewis and Clark

Fort Columbia

Alta Lake

Columbia Plateau

Wallace Falls

Lake Easton

Yakima Sportsman

Maryhill

Ilahee

Dash Point

Potlatch

Twin Harbors

Ginkgo/Wanapum

Flaming Geyser

Saltwater

Ocean City

Fort Ebey

Wenatchee Confluence

Lake Wenatchee

Fort Flagler

Mount Spokane

Millersylvania

Sun Lakes-Dry Falls

Larrabee

Fort Casey

Saint Edward

Parks previouslyidentified for closure or possible operation by cities or counties

Osoyoos

Brooks Memorial

Schafer

Bogachiel

Tolmie

Fay Bainbridge

Fort Okanogan

Wenberg

Fort Ward

Joemma Beach

Kopachuck

Lake Sylvia

Old Fort Townsend