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Newsletter
EXPLORING
RIVERSIDE STATE PARK:
In this issue, we feature articles on three recreational activities in the park – riding horses, orienteering, and rock crawling. |
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| . Riverside State Park has been collecting parking fees throughout most of the park since January of 2003. The parking fee permit was put in place to supplement budget reductions, with the end goal of directing monies to the park for maintenance needs. No one wants a parking fee, but in light of parks financial situation, we have to do our part in making the parking fee work. With that in mind, you will see additional collection boxes on the west side of the park. The Centennial Trail winds its way through this section of the park, as well as miles of natural trails. The collection of parking fees in this area was put on hold in hopes of finding an alternative method of revenue generation, but those efforts have been unsuccessful. Park staff will begin installation of fee boxes when the ground thaws. You can expect to pay a parking fee at Carlson, McClellan, Wilber, Moran, and possibly the Military Cemetery Trailheads, and parking areas on the west side of the Spokane River. Excluded from parking fees at this time are the ORV, Equestrian concession area, and the Spokane House Interpretive Center. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission set the daily parking permit fee at $5.00 daily and $50.00 for an annual permit. The annual permit is good for one year from date of purchase. If two passes are purchased the second pass is discounted 20%, down to $40.00. Visitors can purchase the annual permit at the Nine Mile Ranger station, or at the Bowl and Pitcher office. Permits are also available on line at www.parks.wa.gov. The following Washington State residents may apply for a free annual parking permit.
As an alternative to having to pay a parking fee, Riverside offers an exciting opportunity to those of you who like to volunteer. If you volunteer 20 hours of labor in the park, you qualify for a free annual permit for Riverside. If you volunteer 40 hours, you receive a permit that is good in any state park. The volunteer hours need to be on a project that is pre-approved by a Park Ranger. We have lots of interesting and fulfilling projects available. If you are interested in this option give me a call. I’d like to share with you some of the improvements we made to the park in 2004 through the collection of the parking fee. We were able to install new partitions at the Bowl and Pitcher restroom. The Nine Mile Ranger Station received a new roof. I think all of us can appreciate the new look and honestly say that it is a huge improvement over the old leaking one. These may seem like small accomplishments, but when you take into account that projects like these were completed in parks across the state, you begin to realize we are making a difference in preserving and caring for your parks. Rene’ Wiley |
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A gas of a cycling event for any and all conditions! (snow, rain, sun...skinny, fat, tired, old, young) What: Ride, eat chili and .....A flatulently fun mountain bike ride or race (you decide) with a bowl of Chef Gino's chili for all afterwards! Course is approximately 11 miles in length - everyone does 1 lap and anyone can do this!! When: The gun goes off at noon on Sunday, March 6, 2005. Where: Riverside State Park, Spokane, WA. Seven-Mile Airstrip. See directions Who: Anyone....if you want to ride hard and fast, you're a Flatulator and we'll start you ahead of the others. If you want to just cruise, you're a Beanie and you finish when you're dang tootin' ready! Why: Because you can. And a portion of your entry helps the Riverside State Park Foundation make improvements to the park. How: Mail entry fees or register online...$18 per person - You may also register the day of the event, but it would really help us plan for the chili if you got it to us a week ahead. Go to the registration button and you'll find what you need for entry info there. Chili Feed: A 5 minute drive. From the race site, go back across the 7 mile bridge to Hwy 291 and take a right. Go about 1.5 miles to Rifle Club Rd and turn right. It's the last house on the right. 5818 W Rifle Club Rd. Free chili and brew! Other events from Round & Round Productions, Ltd. at Riverside St. Park in 2005:
Readers
can get more information at <www.roundandround.com> |
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New Riverside State Park Map Available By Barbee Scheibner The second edition of the Riverside State Park Map has been completed. It is on sale at various stores, including REI, Mountain Gear, and NW Maps. This edition has been completely revised and updated by students Sheila King, Rob Kennedy, and Chad Johnson working for the Park through Americorp, a Federal work and study program for students. They used a GPS system to accurately locate the trails in the park and then mapped them on the computer using the old map as a guide. They then consulted with the Riverside State Park Foundation and State Parks to get the main trails numbered and sign posts made and put up. Rob Kennedy also spent much time making corrections on the computer to complete the map. The map of Riverside State Park was produced by the Inland Empire Chapter of the Backcountry Horsemen of Washington. They have also produced the second edition map of Mt. Spokane State Park. |
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Next
Meeting:
The usual meeting date is the third Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the park headquarters. |
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