[Sore Feet]

Here we go again... The cost of going to state parks could be $5 as of Jan. 1. The state Parks and Recreation Commission this week approved a plan to start charging for parking at nearly all of its 125 parks. Six parks along the Columbia River began charging the fee this year. "We have a backlog of $40 million in maintenance," said Thuy Luu-Beams, public-information officer for the commission. Commissioners tried a similar approach last year, but the state Legislature refused to give it authority to spend money raised by new parking fees, so the commission opted not to collect them. Instead, it has canceled leases on a handful of parks, primarily near the Blue Mountains of Idaho. This year, however, the state budget is in such dire straits, commissioners say they'll need to make the switch or risk closing parks just to provide operating expenses. Asked if legislators might move, once again, to prevent the commission from spending any money it collects, Luu-Beams conceded, "They may." http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/134535552_stateparks14m.html