State Parks Foundation Urges Statewide Action Due to Looming Park Closures

State parks enthusiasts aren't taking the news of planned park closures lightly. They're rising to the challenge with the announcement of sponsorship of an assembly bill to help block the move.

Last week, the state of California announced that it will close 25 percent of the state parks system, including Palomar Mountain State Park and San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park. The planned closures by the state Department of Parks and Recreation are designed to help meet the $22 million General Fund budget cuts required by Gov. Brown and the Legislature.

The California State Parks Foundation is moving forward with sponsorship of Assembly Bill 42 (Huffman) in order to protect vulnerable parks, as well as all state parks. The 42-year-old non-profit and park advocacy group strongly opposes the closures, according to a news release.

“We are not going to stand by as our state parks system is closed and dismantled,” said Elizabeth Goldstein, president of the foundation. “California’s state park system belongs to the people of California and its existence is critical to the state’s environmental, economic and civic fabric. Poor choices made now will forever change the state parks system. When state parks are closed, their natural and cultural resources may suffer such significant harm that it may be impossible to recover these gems later, either because of great cost to correct the deterioration or because the harm is irreparable," Goldstein stated. "Added to that, she said, "will be a loss of economic opportunities in communities surrounding these parks.”  

The parks on the closure list put at risk some of the most unique and enduring pieces of California and pre-California history, according to the foundation. They say highlights of the resources on the closure list include:

• 45 percent of the statewide system of State Historic Parks
• 11 parks that provide coastal access 
•  nine parks that showcase Native American history and other archeological assets
•  eight parks that have natural ecosystems that include unique California redwoods

The foundation is sponsoring AB 42 with Assemblymember Jared Huffman (D-Marin) to allow nonprofit organizations to help take a direct role in helping prevent park closures, the foundation states. The bill allows the Department of Parks and Recreation to enter into operating agreements for the improvement, restoration, care, maintenance, administration or operation of units of the state park system with qualified nonprofit organizations.    

“Every minute counts as we work to find solutions for the state parks crisis,” Goldstein stated. AB 42 passed out of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee on March 22 with scores of park advocates present to support the bill on the foundation's Ninth Annual Park Advocacy Day. The bill also passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 11, and now will be taken up on the Assembly Floor on Thursday.   

"AB 42 is a real solution to what is clearly a continuing crisis for our state parks," Goldstein said. "We know closing parks was a difficult decision but let’s make the right decisions going forward and allow new partners to help state parks.”  

More information about AB 42 and the park closure list can be found at my.calparks.org/site/PageServer?pagename=2011ParkClosures 

The California State Parks Foundation has 120,000 members and is reported to be the only statewide independent nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting, enhancing and advocating for California’s state parks.