For those of you who didn’t notice, this is a new section for the newsletter. My hope is that we can keep you updated with some of the more exciting and sometimes disturbing things that are happening in our wonderful park.

I will start out by welcoming Gary Vierra as our new Assistant Park Manager. Gary comes to us from Twin Harbors State Park. He has also worked on the Columbia Plateau Trail and actually started his park career at Riverside. Glad to have you Gary.

It has been a great year so far for our interpretive and environmental education programs. Ranger Audra Sims and Interpretive Assistant Heather Meese have led the charge in educating our visitors about the amazing natural and historical resources that Riverside has to offer. Some of the events we’ve had include a Civil War reenactment, a Fur Trade Encampment, several field hikes in the Little Spokane River Natural Area, and lots of tours at the Spokane House Interpretive Center. Our Junior Ranger Program has been such a big hit this year that we’ve had to put folks on a waiting list because the size of the group. We hope to get more staff or volunteers to help accommodate the big groups for next year. A few other events to note are the campfire programs which are held every Friday and Saturday night at the Bowl & Pitcher Amphitheater from 7:30-8:30pm Memorial Day Holiday through Labor Day Holiday and more hiking, biking, and floating sessions this fall. Call us at the park for more details on these.

Fire season is definitely upon us. There have been a few small fires in and around Riverside already this year. Causes for these include abandoned campfires and lightning strikes. We partnered with the Department of Natural Resources over the 4th of July Holiday to increase patrols in the park and get more eyes on parkland. This partnership went well, Park Rangers had a couple of illegal campfire and fireworks contacts, which resulted in citations. The bottom line is we all need to do our part in helping protect our park for future generations. To report a wildfire call 1-800-562-6010.

Some of the more common law enforcement issues we face at Riverside are illegal camping, riding off road vehicles in non-designated areas, alcohol violations, and dogs being off leash. If anyone witnesses a violation, observe from a safe distance and record what you see (license number, description of person(s), type of violation, time, and location) then please contact the park office at 465-5064 or call crime check at 456-2233 for NON-emergencies. Emergencies call 911.

I am always up for comments and/or criticism, so let me have it… macmikkelsen02@hotmail.com

Meanwhile, I hope you all are enjoying the summer. Be safe and have fun.
Parks are forever.

Dear Riverside State Park Friend,

You have received this Riverside State Park Foundation (RSPF) Newsletter either because you have already subscribed or offered to volunteer for the RSPF, or you are a Riverside State Park neighbor, or because a Riverside State Park Foundation board member requested that your name be placed on the Newsletter mailing list. The number of unpaid newsletter subscriptions is beginning to significantly exceed the number of paid subscriptions and we need to make sure that we’re using our limited resources to efficiently reach the people who really care about our park.

Your mailing label on this issue includes an expiration date below your name. If you subscribed before October 2003, or have never subscribed or offered to volunteer, your expiration date will be Jul-04 – this will be your last issue! If you would like to remain on the RSPF Newsletter mailing list, please fill out the RSPF Membership Application Form at the end of this Newsletter and either mail us a check and/or agree to volunteer, or mail the form back with a ‘Please Retain Me!’ notation. If you subscribe now your membership will extend for one year.

As a further incentive to subscribe:

There will be a RSPF drawing for a 2005 Riverside State Park parking permit for people that subscribe before March 31, 2005.

We will send a CD with a digital RSP Trail Map and Video for folks that sign up for a $50 membership (when the CD is completed this Fall).

We invite you to participate in our monthly joint RSP Foundation / Advisory Board Meetings – usually the third Monday of each month at the Park headquarters on Charles Rd – from 7 to 9 PM. Many timely, interesting, and sometimes controversial issues are discussed at these meeting, some of which may directly impact you as a Riverside State Park neighbor or user. Please check the RSPF web site at:
http://www.riversidestatepark.org/foundation.htm
to get the latest information on the date, time, and location of the next RSPF meeting.

Thank you for your support of Riverside State Park.

Eric Erickson – Secretary/Treasurer/Membership Chairman
Riverside State Park Foundation