Target: Washington State Parks Department Director, Don Hoch
Goal: Thank the parks department for denying construction offers that would have jeopardized the success of local animal and land conservation.
Washington’s state parks department has decided not to allow private development at Crystal Springs after many agencies and conservation groups protested against it. If the parks department had accepted the private offers, Crystal Springs would be turned into a lodge with an RV park, cabins, and retail stores. Most of Crystal Springs is currently used as a day-use-only parking lot where people come for winter snow play, as the park is closed for the rest of the year.
State and federal agencies such as the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife voiced their opposition concerning further development on the park, as well as asking the transportation department not to expand Interstate 90 around this area. The parks department has already set aside $6 million to build a bridge specifically for animals to safely cross the road as well as many other animal crossing sites.
Sign the petition below to thank the director of the Washington State Parks Department for listening to the complaints of activists and for making animal and land conservation more important than income.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Director Hoch,
Thank you for deciding not to offer the property at Crystal Springs to private developers. It’s pleasing to see a government office sincerely listening to the complaints of the citizens it serves and choosing animal conservation over a new lodge. It’s also refreshing to see specific animal crossing sites and even a bridge specifically for animals being placed around the interstate. It’s best to keep large amounts of human activity far away from these areas so that animals are encouraged to use the crossings.
Building a lodge at Crystal Springs would have just attracted more people and would defeat the purpose of the animal crossings in the first place. This issue has also strengthened the partnerships between agencies and conservation groups who originally brought up the idea of the animal crossings.
The conservation groups have stated that they’re happy that the parks department is staying on track with the original goal and hope that the department will be more willing to listen to their requests and ideas. By withdrawing this proposal from consideration, the department further engages citizens and other conservation agencies and spreads the message that the parks department is willing to improve its current condition for recreation and wildlife.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: OregonHikers.org
