Did you know Washington Legislature created the State Board of Park Commissioners on March 19th, 1913, four years before the creation of the National Park System.?Today, the Commission manages 117 developed parks and a total of approximately 120,000 acres of park lands – approximately one-third of the land donated by citizens over the years. State parks still receive an estimated 40 million visits a year statewide.

To celebrate 100 years, the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission invites the public to a day of family outdoor fun in June at Riverside State Park in Spokane. The Centennial Celebration at Riverside will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 8th, in the Bowl and Pitcher area of Riverside State Park, 4427 N. Aubrey L. White Parkway, Spokane.

The all-day celebration at Riverside is planned in conjunction with the Riverside State Park Foundation, the Washington State Parks Foundation and a variety of recreational organizations. The day will include family activities, river rafting and demonstrations, recreation vendors, music and more. Food will be available to purchase from area vendors participating in the event. Representatives of the Spokane Tribe will welcome participants to a speaker ceremony beginning at noon on the central stage, featuring local and state officials and Commission representatives. Music performances by bluegrass band Big Red Barn, the Celtic Knots and swing band called 6 Foot Swing, will follow from 2:15 to 6 p.m., as part of the State Parks Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program. The arts program performances are supported in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and presented in partnership with Northwest Heritage Resources. The event day is a State Parks “free” day; Discover Pass is not required to attend.

An updated schedule of events is available on the Riverside State Parks Foundation web site, www.riversidestatepark.org. Some of the day’s activities are as follows:

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – River rafting trips, Spokane Parks & Recreation*

11 am – Celebration event begins

11:15 am – Raptor program, West Valley Outdoor Learning Center Noon – Celebration ceremony

1:15 pm - Patrick McManus book signing

2:15 to 6 pm - Live music

2:30 pm - Beginner orienteering course, Eastern Washington Orienteering Club

2:30 pm - Arts and crafts, Spokane Parks & Recreation and the Washington State Parks Foundation

3:30 pm - Bike rodeo, Riverside State Park and Evergreen East Bike Club

3:30 pm - Geocaching 101, Washington State Geocaching Association, Inland Empire Chapter

4:30 pm – Ranger-led river trail hike, Washington State Parks

*Provided by Wiley E. Waters. Customers may register in advance by calling 208-457-1092. Cost: $49 a person. Signups also available at event. Rafting trips are three hours, at 10 a.m., 1 and 4 p.m., beginning at Peaceful Valley and taking out at Plese Flats day-use area.

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