OLYMPIA – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has announced the recipients of the 2003 Volunteer Recognition Awards for outstanding volunteer service.

State Parks works with volunteers throughout the state to continue enhancing agency efficiency and to stretch funding. Last year, volunteers performed more than 277,000 hours of work, equal to 133 full-time employees.

The award for Significant Volunteer Achievement (Youth Group) went to Eagle Scout Scott Bartle and Troop 245, Gig Harbor.

Bartle performed his Eagle Scout project with Troop 245 at Cape Disappointment State Park, where they built a stairway on a steep slope along approximately 300 feet of the North Head Trail, using pressure-treated railroad ties. They accomplished the task in one day.