California Intends to Close 70 State Parks, Including Two in North County

Palomar Mountain State Park and San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park are among 70 state parks scheduled to close because of budget cuts. The two North County parks could be shut down in July 2012, according to state parks officials.

The nearly 1,900-acre site on Palomar Mountain includes camping, picnicking, hiking and fishing, along with long-distance views of the Pacific Ocean.

The San Pasqual location east of Escondido commemorates the bloody 1846 clash in the Mexican-American War between the forces of generals Stephen Kearny and Andres Pico.

“Closing state parks is not a task that gives anyone joy, but we are experiencing turbulent times that necessitate deep—almost unthinkable—cuts to public services,” Gov. Jerry Brown said. “I will work hard in the coming weeks to reach an agreement that will allow us to avoid deeper and more disruptive reductions.”

State officials said they tried to preserve the most historical and culturally significant parks, but they were required to cut back to save $11 million in the next fiscal year, and $22 million the year after.

“When the governor first proposed the cut to state parks, we warned that the closures would be devastating, and clearly they will be,” said Elizabeth Goldstein, president of the California State Parks Foundation. “At a time when local communities are struggling to be part of the state’s recovery, this proposal shuts the door to a vital part of our economy. Closing these parks is going in the wrong direction.”

Goldstein said the number of closures represents one-quarter of the state parks system.

The list includes the largest park in Northern California, Henry W. Coe State Park southeast of San Jose; the historic home of author Jack London in Sonoma County; and several that feature the state’s iconic redwood trees.

City News Service contributed to this report.