Washington State Parks News Releases

News Release 12-057

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
1111 Israel Road S.W., P.O. Box 42650, Olympia, WA 98504-2650, (360) 902-8500
Don Hoch, Director

Discover fun and recreation at Riverside State Park

OLYMPIA – June 11, 2012 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and Riverside State Park Foundation invite the public to Discover Riverside – a Centennial 2013 event on June 24 at Riverside State Park near Spokane.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 24 at Riverside State Park in Spokane County. Discover Riverside is an open house-style park fun day, with samples of the many recreational opportunities offered at areas throughout the park, including the Bowl and Pitcher, Spokane House Interpretive Center, Nine Mile Recreation, Equestrian and Off-Road Vehicle areas. Each area of the park features a unique recreational activity during the event, providing family fun for outdoor enthusiasts of all levels. The Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to the event. Staff and volunteers will be on hand in each area to sell the Discover Pass.

Activities are scheduled as follows:

• Bowl and Pitcher Area: Hiking, biking and orienteering displays and wildlife presentations. Take along a mountain bike or road bike to try the biking opportunities found at the park. Children’s activities, games and crafts also are in the area picnic shelter. The Bowl and Pitcher area is at 4427 North Aubrey L. White Parkway in Spokane.

• Nine Mile Recreation Area: Canoeing and kayaking activities, boating safety expert meet-and-greet, information on bass and fly fishing on the lake and presentations about the protection of Lake Spokane and other water resources. Learn more about the new water access and camping opportunity additions at the park. Canoes, kayaks, paddles and safety gear are provided at the event. Free boat inspections are available to those who take along their own equipment. The Nine Mile Recreation Area is at 11226 West Charles Road in Nine Mile Falls.

• Equestrian Area: Exploration of the new equestrian campground and existing horse-riding trails, displays by local trail riding organizations and free pony rides for children who weigh 75 pounds or less. Visitors also may take along horses to participant in the Sheriff Community Oriented Policing Effort (SCOPE) mounted patrol equestrian course. The Equestrian Area is at 3402 Aubrey L. White Parkway, off of Government Way, in Spokane.

• Spokane House Interpretive Center: Indoor and outdoor museum exhibits and demonstrations about the early fur trade. The Spokane House Interpretive Center is along Highway 291 just west of Nine Mile Dam in Nine Mile Falls.

• Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Area: All-terrain vehicle test drives, ride-alongs with expert ORV drivers and displays featuring ORV gear. Test drives and ride-alongs are free. The ORV Area is at 9412 North Inland Road, approximately two miles down Seven Mile Road in Nine Mile Falls.

Discover Riverside is one of many Centennial 2013 events leading up to the park system’s 100th birthday in 2013. Events include park fun days, tours, demonstrations, cultural, music and arts events, interpretive activities, recreation days and more. Upcoming events include Discover Cam’Isle, a celebration of small boat sailing at Cama Beach State Park on Sept. 3 and Discover Lake Sylvia Fall Festival, a festival event featuring artists demonstrations, triathlons and nature walks at Lake Sylvia State Park on Sept. 15. For information about State Parks events in this 100th celebration year, visit www.parks.wa.gov/events and watch for reminders on State Parks social media.

This event is sponsored by the Riverside State Park Foundation. The foundation is a non-profit organization assisting with the raising of fund and in-kind donations for Riverside State Park through project support, volunteering and event such as Discover Riverside. For more information about the Riverside State Park Foundation, visit www.riversidestatepark.org.

June is Washington State Great Outdoors Month. Enjoy Washington’s many recreational activities and celebrate the month dedicated to environmental stewardship and the appreciation of the outdoors. Many state parks will play host to a variety of events in June. For information about events at Washington state parks, visit www.parks.wa.gov/events.

Riverside State Park is a camping park along the Spokane and Little Spokane rivers in Eastern Washington. The park supports a wide variety of recreational activities and is rich in history. Freshwater marshes, running rivers and beautiful countryside make up the terrain. The park also includes the Nine Mile Recreation Area, which is available for camping, picnicking, swimming, fishing and boating.

Stay connected to your state parks by following Washington State Parks at www.facebook.com/WashingtonStateParks, www.twitter.com/WaStatePks_NEWS and www.youtube.com/WashingtonStateParks.

The Commission manages a diverse system of more than 100 state parks and recreation programs, including long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation. The 99-year-old park system will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013.

Support state parks by purchasing your annual Discover Pass today, and enjoy a whole year of outdoor fun on Washington’s beautiful state-managed recreation lands. For more information, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.

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