Washington State Parks recently released a thorough report related to 2024 volunteer investments and outreach. Sometimes it’s easy to ignore certain parks or public spaces because we drive past them so often, but thanks to the agency we have concrete data concerning the massive volunteer hours put into Eastern Washington’s State Parks.
According to Washington Parks spokesperson Rianna Bidon, Riverside received 1,613 hours of community service, while the Spokane Centennial Trail received 403 hours, and Mount Spokane received a whopping 6,158 hours. These numbers are collected from volunteers, as well as campground hosts, but does not include time from the Spokane Riverkeeper, the Washington Trails Association or local police agencies cleaning up illegal camps. These sweaty hours showcase how much the parks are appreciated—however, love and trail maintenance is not enough.
For example, the agency is readily seeking volunteers for 2025 to paint the Selkirk Lodge, upgrade over 25 picnic tables, stock firewood throughout Mount Spokane warming huts, and recruit volunteers for Lake Spokane, Columbia Plateau, Gardner Caves, and Crystal Falls areas. They also need assistance with tool maintenance, saw training, and possibly some work to fight certain invasive plant species.
If you or any of your social groups would like to help, you can reach out to the Washington State Parks website. You can also learn more from Friends of the Centennial Trail, Spokane Riverkeeper, Friends of Riverside State Park, Evergreen East, or the local Washington Trails Association chapter. Equally important, don’t forget about the Idaho State Parks like Farragut and Heyburn. Last but not least, the above institutions will always take donations. Even better, when you give to a local non-profit, the money is invested in local projects, instead of traveling to Olympia or Boise and back again. Finally, thanks again to everyone that volunteered in 2024.
