Commissioner Franz to unveil first statewide recreation plan for public

Public can comment until Nov. 21 on DNR’s draft Outdoor Access and Responsible Recreation Strategic Plan

By Gazette-Tribune • October 21, 2024 10:30 am
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The Washington State Department of Natural Resources manages 3 million acres of state trust lands, 2 million acres of state-owned aquatic lands, and 97 natural areas covering nearly 170,000 acres. These lands include 1,300 miles of designated trails and more than 160 recreation sites, including 80 campgrounds. <em>DNR photo </em>
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources manages 3 million acres of state trust lands, 2 million acres of state-owned aquatic lands, and 97 natural areas covering nearly 170,000 acres. These lands include 1,300 miles of designated trails and more than 160 recreation sites, including 80 campgrounds. DNR photo

OLYMPIA – Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz will hold a press conference at 10am Monday morning to unveil the Washington State Department of Natural Resources’ first statewide recreation strategic plan. The press conference will kickoff a month-long public comment period for the plan, which will set the agency’s priorities for recreation management and outdoor access on DNR-managed lands.

DNR is developing the plan to act as a statewide road map to guide future landscape-level planning and ensure natural, cultural, and tribal resources are respected and protected throughout the state, while offering high-quality, accessible recreation opportunities in response to a 21 percent increase in visitation from 2019 to 2020.

WHO: Commissioner Franz will be joined by Andrea Martin, DNR’s Statewide Recreation Manager and Patrick DePoe, DNR’s Tribal Affairs Director.

WHEN: Monday, Oct. 21, 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: McLane Creek Nature Trail Gathering Shelter,

View a map of the area here.

Learn more about DNR’s Outdoor Access and Responsible Recreation Strategic Plan here: dnr.wa.gov/staterecplan.

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