2023 Park Improvement Projects in Washington State Parks

In 2023, donors funded a wide variety of park improvement projects to restore parks, trails, facilities, and campgrounds for your next visit.

These projects were funded by gifts to the Foundation from donors—people like you—who love parks and want to make them more welcoming for all. Here is a selection of our 2023 improvements.

Alta Lake Tree Planting

New pine trees were planted at Alta Lake State Park, restoring land scarred by a fire in 2014.

Alta Lake Tree(1) — Photo courtesy of Washington State Parks.

Seaquest Signage

Color-coded maps with clear trail names were added at trail junctions and the ranger station at Seaquest State Park. This improvement is helping visitors choose adventures best suited for their needs. A new sign for the ampitheater is also pointing more visitors toward educational talks and interactive activities.

Palouse to Cascades Trail Solar Lights

Lights at an information kiosk on the Palouse to Cascades Trail are now powered by solar energy, helping pave the way for more renewable energy in state parks.

Mount St. Helens Visitor Center Interpretive Naturalist Intern

A young intern was supported through a stipend at Mount St. Helens Visitor Center in the summer of 2023. This intern helped visitors learn about wildlife, habitats, and geology while growing their skills and passions in the natural resource field.

Ike Kinswa Adventure Backpacks

Thanks to donor funding, Ike Kinswa was able to create and purchase materials for eight Adventure Backpacks designed to facilitate nature exploration for youth and families. Each backpack has a variety of activities designed to fuel adventure, including compasses, binoculars, scavenger hunts, youth leave-no-trace cards, magnifying glasses, constellation books, star charts, and nature guides. Ike Kinswa's AmeriCorps Naturalist even created some of these items specific to the park. Materials are designed to be accessible and user-friendly so as many visitors as possible are able to use them to explore.

Cama Beach Electric Boat Engines

The Center for Wooden Boats replaced gasoline-powered outboard engines with electric motors for their fleet at Cama Beach, reducing noise and fuel emissions in the beautiful Saratoga Passage.

Electric tools PIP — Photo courtesy of Washington State Parks.

Fort Flagler Bench Replacements

Aging and weathered wooden benches were replaced with fresh benches throughout Fort Flagler State Park, providing visitors with safe and comfortable places to rest.

South Puget Sound Mobile Pump Out Program

Donors continued to support a mobile pump out program to help boaters dispose of waste and keep Puget Sound clean near Cutts Island, Kopachuk, Joemma, and Penrose State Parks.

Mobile Pump-out (1) — Photo courtesy of Pierce County.

Fort Ebey Campsite Marker Replacements

Deteriorating wooden campsite markers were replaced with new metal campsite markers so campers can easily find their way. These new markers will last for decades to come.

Steamboat Rock State Park Aluminum Can Recycling

Campers can now recycle empty aluminum cans in a new dedicated recycling bin, helping protect wildlife, keep trash out of landfills, and reduce litter throughout the park.