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Thursday, July 30, 2020 — Shelton-Mason Journal — Page A—37
The boat ramp parking lot at Twanoh State Park along state Route 106
between Union and Belfair fills quickly on weekends. Twanoh was one of
several
state parks that the WashingtOn State Parks and Recreation Commission says
is chronically crowded. Journal photo Justin Johnson
A bit too popular
yJustin Johnson .
justin@masoncounty.com . . A»:
With temperatures soaring in recent weeks,
Washington’s state, national parks and forest ser-
vice recreation areas have become popular destina-
tions to get outdoors and cool off.
Maybe a little too popular.
In a Friday news release, the Washington State
Parks and Recreation Commission asked the public,
follow its guidelines for responsive recreation this
summer. .
Specifically, the commission asked the public to
EDITOR’S __
Expect the unexpected-With this year’s group Of M’s
p mongthe many plea-
sures the coronavirus
pandemic has robbed
from us are sports. Usually by
the end of July, NFL training
'camps are whirring up, high
school sports are getting ready
to begin practice and Major
ing a win in its third game of
a season—opening series with
Houston on Sunday. - '
In some ways. it might be
beneficial for the Seattle Mari-
ners’ rebuilding year to come
on a pandemic-shortened,
60-game schedule. That way,
do its part to prevent crowding.
“When parks are crowded and parking lots are
full, visitors should go somewhere else,” the release
from the commission stated. “Popular state parks
across Washington have been experiencing high
numbers of visitors this summer. Large crowds are
a concern because it makes social distancing difficult
for park staff and visitors.” '
' Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, state park visi-
tors are asked to maintain 6 feet of distance from
nonhousehold members and wear face masks or cov-
erings when that distance can’t be achieved. ,
The commission also is concerned about the effect
dents had never heard of.
bunch of guys most Northwest resi-
Sure, there were some bright spots
on the roster, which the team hopes
to build around in 2020 for the fran-
chise’s three- or four-year plan, .
General Manager Jerry Dipoto told the
Seattle Times that he originally wanted
? Twanoh State Park among state and national
' parks in Washington drawing too many visitors
large crowds have on parks’ natural resources.
In its release, the commission said Lake Chelan
and Lake Wenatchee state parks would close day-
use areas to additional visitors when parking lots
become full. ' ‘
It also listed several other parks statewide that
have been experiencing crowding, including Twanoh
State Park in Mason County. .
pThis past weekend, Twanoh reached its parking
capacity early on Saturday and Sunday as more
than 1,000 people traveled to the park on state
“seer—CROWDS, page
eran players with impossible-to-dump
salaries, this year’s M’s squad —— as
well as its top brass —— Will be happy if
its young talent shows it has staying
power for 2021 and
By then, we’ll really know whether
this shortened season was effective .
or got in the way of the Mariners’ re-
building process.
to get 500 plate appearances in 2020 for
young up and corners Evan White, Shed
Long Jr. and J .P. Crawford — all three of
‘ which the M’s hope will be reliable con-
tributors. The team also wanted 20 starts
from Justus Sheffield and Justin Dunn,
the team’s predictive two aces-to-be.
Now, those expectations have
changed. It-is possible, however un-
likely, that the team could actually
compete‘for a playoff position. As of
July 23, the Major League Baseball
Players Association was in negotia-
tions for possibly expanding the num- ‘
ber of playoff teams to 16. As crazy
as that sounds, we could see playoff
‘ baseball in Seattle for the first time in
nearly two'decades.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
This year’s team was not built for the
playoffs. Outside of a couple of vet-
us fans aren’t subjected to the
overwhelming and mediocre
grind of a full 162-game sea-
son.
That’s a cynical way to look
at it, but die-hard Mariners fans are '
a hardened bunch. We’ve followed a
franchise attempt to rebuild, but also
spend big dollars on high-price free
agents, since‘2001, when the team fa-
mously won 116 regular season games.
The Mariners have been coasting
ever since, attempting to rebuild and
remain profitable at the same time,
leavingfans with a mediocre-at-best
team. .
It’s hard for me to get excited after
last year’s first year in its recent re-
building effort. The 2019 Seattle Mari-
ners went 68-94,, last in the American
League West division, featuring a '
League Baseball’s trade dead-
line is looming.
But, as we all know, 2020
has thrown our expectations
for sports in a blender and
we’re lefi; crying in our cups.
During the past decade, my goal for
any Seattle Mariners season is this —
keep me interested and entertained
until the NFL preseason begins in
August. With a professional baseball
team that hasn’t made the playoffs
since George W, Bush was president,
it’s a reasonable expectation.
This year’s different. Major League ‘
Baseball is moving forward with a
shortened SChedule, which started July
23. Teams, including the Mariners,
4 will only play Within their division or
geographic areas.
Seattle started its season 1-4, earn-
Until then, I’m going totake this
season for what it is -, an opportunity
to remember why I fell in love with '
baseball as a kid. My son will be 2 in
October, so by then, maybe we can
sit in front of the TV and-watch MLB ‘
playoffs just like I did when I was
young. :
That’s what I really want out of this
year’s MLB season. I want to be able
’ to share the sport I love with my son
'— even if games are played in empty
stadiums with piped-in croWd noise.
Welcome to 2020.
When do the Seahawks start?
By ADAM
RUDNICK
I Adam Rudnick is editor in chief of V
the Shelton-Mason Connty Journal. He . -
can be reached at adam@masoncounty.
com.