Over the last two weeks, we kicked off the 2026 legislative session with two cornerstone events: our Legislative Reception at the Governor’s Mansion on January 21 and a focused, high-impact Parks & Great Outdoors Legislative Day in Olympia. Together, these moments set the tone for a fast-paced session centered on gratitude, relationships, and the lasting economic and health benefits of investing in outdoor spaces across Washington.
An Evening at the Governor’s Mansion
On January 21, more than 90 legislators, partners, advocates, and industry leaders gathered at the Governor’s Mansion for an evening of conversation, connection, and celebration. The reception was both a thank-you and a launch point – recognizing past wins while building momentum for the work ahead.
Guests mingled over food and drink, reconnecting with colleagues and forging new relationships across the recreation, conservation, and public lands community. We were especially grateful to welcome Marc Berejka, Strategy and Policy Advisor to the Nature and Health Alliance and a former Coalition Board member, as our guest speaker. Marc helped frame the session ahead, underscoring the powerful intersection between outdoor recreation, economic vitality, and public health – a theme that carried through the rest of the week.
Parks & Great Outdoors Legislative Day
Earlier this week, on January 27, Coalition staff, board members, partners, and constituents came together for our annual Parks & Great Outdoors Legislative Day. This year’s Legislative Day featured 14 targeted virtual meetings with key legislators, including Capital Budget writers and new lawmakers, which created space for deeper, high-impact conversations about the statewide impact of the WWRP.
In each meeting, Coalition members expressed gratitude for the Legislature’s inclusion of $120 million for the WWRP in the 2025–27 Capital Budget and shared what those investments mean on the ground. We extend our sincere thanks to Representatives Ley, Parshley, Hill, Abbarno, Burnett, Keaton, Scott, Zahn, Thomas, Leavitt, Rule, and Nance, as well as Senators Salahuddin and Krishnadasan, for carving time out of their busy schedules to meet with us. We could not do this work without their leadership and support.
The legislators we met with were enthusiastic about our message and expressed strong interest in touring WWRP-funded projects in their districts this summer…so stay tuned for a busy and exciting site tour season ahead!
The Case for Investment: Economy, Health, and Youth
At both the Legislative Reception and Parks & Great Outdoors Legislative Day, we told the story of how outdoor recreation powers our economy, boosts public health, and opens doors for youth across Washington. Using data from the Recreation and Conservation Office’s recently released Economic Analysis of Outdoor Recreation in Washington State, Coalition members demonstrated that recreation is a major economic engine and a critical public health investment.
Outdoor recreation supports over 237,000 jobs in Washington and drives approximately $25 billion in consumer spending annually. Just as importantly, access to parks, trails, and open spaces improves physical and mental health outcomes, reduces chronic disease, and provides affordable, nearby opportunities for people—especially youth—to be active, decompress, and connect with nature.
The WWRP plays a significant role in driving that economic reach. Every district in Washington has received millions in WWRP funding – that means real projects, real dollars, and real health benefits statewide.
Looking Ahead
This legislative session has been and will continue to be fast and furious. But we are confident that our focused, relationship-driven approach positions both the Coalition and the WWRP for long-term success.
We’re thinking of 2026 as a foundation-building year—laying the groundwork now so we’re ready to go big when the WWRP is up for funding again in 2027. That future success will depend on a strong, united Coalition, and we’re grateful to everyone who joined us at the Governor’s Mansion, met with legislators, and continues to lend their voice to this work.
Thank you for being part of our Coalition Together, we’re protecting Washington’s lands and waters for today’s communities – and for generations to come.
All photos courtesy of Patrik Bangle. You can find more of his work here.