State Park increase (Lewiston: lease, home, to buy)

[Glenview94602]

Hi everyone, I know this is going to sound really whiny, but I just need to vent.
I recognize that Idaho can and should have cheaper prices to use their tax supported state parks, but doubling the state park fees for non residents in the middle of the year just seems petty and rude. Idaho already increased their prices (quite fairly in my opinion at the start of the year). The new increase that start Thursday is what I'm upset about. The state is well within their right to increase their fees for non residents, but to this extent just seems wrong. I bought my annual pass for $40 in March before the state law was passed and while I expect to have that honored for the rest of the year, the new increase makes Idaho parks unaffordable. Even something like a fifty percent increase would have been warranted, but to double the prices is mean spirited. I go to Hells Gate all the time and Lewiston/Clarkston/Asotin are basically one city. Heck when I lived in Lewiston last summer I was there almost every other day... I could certainly understand cutting off cabin/reservations and raising those rates since those really should be used by Idahoans and those on vacation can afford it. But day use should not be this expensive. I like Idaho and they do things right generally speaking compared to WA, but what a slap in the face to loyal visitors. Rant over!

https://www.idahopress.com/news/loca...12ab0a3a6.html

[cleosmom]

Does Washington not have any parks?

[Seguinite]

So you can travel to get there often enough to buy a pass for $40, but $40 more is too much?

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Perhaps the parks are over-used and it is an attempt to cut down the number of people using the park? Or to pay to repair the damage caused by overuse?


Since it is not your tax money paying for the parks, I'm a teeny bit short on sympathy when your $40 is no longer giving you access every other day. I haven't been to a Washington state park for quite awhile but when I was last there , their non-resident fee was quite substantial. I can't think of any reason that should only go in one direction.

[Glenview94602]

Originally Posted by Seguinite

So you can travel to get there often enough to buy a pass for $40, but $40 more is too much?

They are raising the fee from $40 to $80. My pass is still good for 2021 since I already bought it but outdoor recreation should be encouraged. I wish WA had lower fees for you guys to visit too.
I certainly agree that places with camping should have first priority for Idahoans. Day use should be cheaper.

[elousv]

I would quadruple it.

[Glenview94602]

Originally Posted by elousv

I would quadruple it.

They are legally capped at double by federal regulations (since many of the parks are leased) and not allowed to restrict out of staters.

Also I support the main reason this was done, because overnight campers took up all the reservations and you Idahoans weren't getting any slots, but day use is different.

That said, overall Idaho is much better run than Washington.

[cleosmom]

Originally Posted by Glenview94602

They are legally capped at double by federal regulations (since many of the parks are leased) and not allowed to restrict out of staters.

Also I support the main reason this was done, because overnight campers took up all the reservations and you Idahoans weren't getting any slots, but day use is different.

That said, overall Idaho is much better run than Washington.

Why is day use different? Shouldn't the residents of Idaho get first dibs?

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Originally Posted by Glenview94602

........ and you Idahoans weren't getting any slots, but day use is different. .........

I don't know that it is much different. I go to use the day use area of the state park (and local parks) and can't because all the parking is full. I can't use the park if I can't park my car, and I really can't use the lake if there is no place left to park my boat trailer. It's quite common for half or more of the cars in the parking lot to have out-of-state tags.


The state parks and day use areas have limited capacity and a lot of that capacity is used up by people coming in from out of state. So no. It isn't really different.

[mistyriver]

My car has WA tags and I own a home here in Idaho and pay huge property taxes. Maybe some of the Wa tags you are seeing are the same.
Though we don’t tend to use the parks…just the occasional use of the nearest boat ramp, which we get a sticker for every season.