By David Haerle
The Daily World
The Washington State Parks Department is observing its 108th anniversary this month, and in celebration if offering free entry to all state parks on Friday.
March 19 is the third of 12 State Parks free days in 2021, when visitors are not required to display the Discover Pass for day-use visits to a park.
This all comes on the heels of Thursday’s announcement that group campgrounds will reopen in 52 state parks on March 22. Occupancy at group camps and day-use shelters will be limited to 15 people total from two different households.
The spots will likely fill up quick. Reservations for those group campsites will open up at noon Thursday. (Overnight visitors in state parks are charged fees for camping and other overnight accommodations; day access is included in the overnight fee.)
Meanwhile, in an effort to get ready for what will likely be a very busy camping season, The Friends of Schafer & Lake Sylvia (FOSLS) is inviting volunteers to come help prepare Schafer State Park in the East County with a work party Saturday, March 20. Bring your gloves, tools and rakes, and dress for the weather. Volunteers are also asked to bring a dish to share at a potluck lunch that will begin at noon. The annual FOSLS meeting will follow.
The Schafer Work Party will run from 10 a.m until 2 p.m. that day. All skill and physical levels are welcome.
“This time of year, the fir trees in the park drop lots of needles and branches, said Stet Palmer, a longtime member of FOSLS. “We’re just going to be cleaning up campgrounds — there’s a lot of rake work.”
Other state parks in our region that will be offering free admission on Friday are: Lake Sylvia State Park, Bottle Beach State Park, Pacific Beach State Park, Griffiths-Priday Ocean State Park, Ocean City State Park, Westport Light State Park, Twin Harbors Beach State Park, Grayland Beach State Park and — in Pacific County — Leadbetter Point State Park and Pacific Pines State Park.
The remaining 2021 State Parks free days are:
Saturday, April 3 — Springtime free day
Thursday, April 22 — Earth Day
Saturday, June 5 — National Trails Day
Saturday, June 12 – National Get Outdoors Day
Sunday, June 13 — Free Fishing Day
Wednesday, Aug. 25 — National Park Service Birthday
Saturday, Sept. 25 — National Public Lands Day
Thursday, Nov. 11 — Veterans Day
Friday, Nov. 26 — Autumn free day
