Administration provides executive leadership, commission support, policy development, financial services, facilities management, technology services, human resources, communications, risk management, records management and other related agency-wide systems support and services.

Washington has 125 developed state parks and 92 heritage sites, conservation areas and other properties on more than 125,000 acres of land, receiving about 35 million visits each year. Park facilities include picnic, day-use and historic sites; conference, interpretive and retreat centers; and overnight accommodations which includes campsites, cabins and yurts and vacation houses. Parks provide public access to ocean beaches and water recreation facilities, which include boat launches, docks, floats, marinas, and numerous park and cross-state trails. State Parks Operations staff prevent and mitigate risks to visitors, other park staff, park property, and park natural and cultural resources. This activity includes the commissioning of park rangers to provide law enforcement services for visitors and protect park resources. Park Operations’ staff address the maintenance and repair needs of parks infrastructure, trees, buildings and other structures, trails and roads. Staff is responsible for agency vehicles and equipment, along with maintenance and preservation of freshwater and saltwater piers, pilings, bulkheads, mooring buoys, and docks. Volunteers support the parks by donating time doing work within the parks that span from one-time work parties to monthly hosting work in the campgrounds. Their efforts are to the betterment of the park system.

The Winter Recreation Program is responsible for managing a statewide system of Sno-Parks that provide public access to snow-based recreational trails, enabling activities such as snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, skate skiing, snowshoeing, dog sledding and ski-joring (skiers towed by one or two dogs). To ensure safe public access and enjoyment, the program provides snow removal at parking areas; trail grooming, safety education and law enforcement, and sanitation services. The Winter Recreation Program is funded solely from snowmobile registration fees, Sno-Park permit sales, and a refunded portion of the state fuel tax that is attributed to snowmobile use, and grant support when available. The activity also provides pass-through dedicated funds for the operation of the Northwest Avalanche Center.

State Parks manages building construction, renovation, and preservation of park facilities and infrastructure; provides long range park planning; land acquisition, disposal, and management of real property consistent with the Commission's mission and vision. This activity also resolves trespass issues; provides park bridge inspections; identifies the Seashore Conservation Area boundaries; administers the agency water rights and sales of valuable materials; and manages the agency leases, including communication sites (two-way radio, televisions and other broadcasting facilities) and other non-recreation agreements.

State Parks protects natural, historic, and cultural resources as part of its core mission. This activity administers salmon recovery projects, forest management, fire protection, State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review, environmental permitting, archaeological review, artifact curation, historic preservation, shellfish resource protection and enhancement, wildlife management, weed control, monitoring and reporting of agency sustainability efforts and State Parks arbor crew activities. The activity also conducts research, develops natural and cultural resources policies and procedures; coordinates efforts to reduce water pollution from recreational boating activities by providing United States Fish and Wildlife Service capital grants to public and private marinas and moorage facilities to install boating sewage disposal facilities.

State Parks provides boater education and outreach; marine law enforcement and mandatory boating certification; accident reporting; aids to navigation and working with the Department of Licensing for the registration and titling of vessels. These efforts are conducted under authority delegated to Washington State Parks by the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Through this work, the program provides training, funding, and recognition to 52 local law enforcement agencies that maintain marine law enforcement programs, administer Washington’s mandatory boating education law, and coordinates the boating accident reporting system. This activity approves city and county marine law enforcement programs as meeting standards to receive vessel registration funds and also passes through federal funds to programs for marine patrols. Funds are provided by the United States Coast Guard, Recreation Conservation Office (boating excise tax), and vessel registration fees.

State Parks develops mutually beneficial partnerships with other government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private businesses. The agency engages in marketing efforts to increase awareness of State Park amenities and sales of the Discover Pass, overnight accommodations, and other parks services. Partnerships help offset operating and capital costs, directly generating revenue through donations, grants, and business sponsorships, and indirectly generating revenue by promoting use of parks and sale of Discover Passes and other fees for park services, including concessions (food, beverage and some recreational services), communication sites (two-way radio, televisions and other broadcasting facilities) and other non-recreation ground leases.