FORKS — Bogachiel State Park and several other state-run parks in Washington may close as soon as this spring because of the state budget shortfall.
The park, on U.S. Highway 101 south of Forks, is one of 10 parks owned and operated by the state that could be closed to make up for budget cuts, the state Parks and Recreation Commission announced this week.
“These aren’t imminent closures,” Parks and Recreation spokeswoman Virginia Painter said Thursday. “These are lists that we developed so we could respond to budget deductions.”
Bogachiel is No. 8 on a ranked list of 10 state-owned parks that could be shut down with the intent of “mothballing” them for a minimum of three years, Painter said.
Parks and Recreation would cancel leases for 13 parks that are operated but not owned by the state before shutting down the 10 listed parks in order.
Day-use parks could be closed as early as this spring, but camping parks that accept reservations would remain open through September, Painter said.
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