Category Overview
State Parks grants help preserve and develop our state’s best outdoor recreation areas by funding new campgrounds and amenities to increase the capacity of our parks, creating new parks, improving park resources, and protecting historical areas. These grants help our state continue to develop our world-class parks system to share our cultural heritage and natural treasures with all of its visitors.
Project Highlights
State Parks will use this grant to buy 150 acres in Olallie State Park, ensuring this popular recreation area is protected forever for public use. Located just east of North Bend and within an hour’s drive from Seattle, Olallie State Park is in the heart of the Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area. Each season, thousands of hikers and rock climbers unknowingly traverse this private property, which includes 1 mile of the Mount Washington Trail, on their way to Mount Washington’s summit or to more than 70 sport climbing routes in the Mount Washington Climbing Area. Though regularly used by hikers and climbers, no agreement is in place with the owner to ensure permitted access, nor is there an alternative access point given the site’s topography. The State Parks and Recreation Commission will contribute $27,750 in a private grant and donations of cash and labor.