California State Parks Threatened – More Than 80% Could Close

Humboldt Redwoods State Park is threatened

SAVE OUR STATE PARKS

“this is the worst threat to park system in its 150 year history” - California State Parks Foundation

For those of us who grew up in California, our childhoods are most likely marked by at least one experience in a state park. For those who relocated here, it is most likely pictures of the landscape that lured you and an experience in one of our state parks that made you feel that you made the right choice. The smell of campfire smoke mingled with ocean air at El Capitan State Beach. Avoiding banana slugs while traipsing through fern-lined trails under majestic giant redwoods in Humboldt State Park. Arriving in Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve State Park just in time to catch the brief but awesome hillside floral springtime spectacle. Having your breath taken away by the dramatic cliffs while driving the windy road to Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.

Reading through the lengthy list of proposed state park closures my eyes well up with tears. As a familiar park name scrolls by I mourn for it like I would a friend. Great memories are tied to so many of these places. They have shaped me.  I wonder about those other unfamiliar names – the “friends” I’ve yet to meet – what will I be missing? What will the generations of children after me be missing?

I believe that we should be able to convince Schwarzenegger not to close these state treasures with our personal stories. However, just in case the qualitative doesn’t convince anyone, California State Parks Foundation has some convincing quantitative figures to throw into the argument. Please read what they have to say and write your own personal letters to your legislators today. Let’s give our children the opportunity to build their own memories.

- Ilana Gustafson Turner

Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve is threatened.

This is the information straight from the California State Parks Foundation:

“Imminent State Park Closings!

We have just learned the details of Governor Schwarzenegger’s budget plan that if approved will close at least 80% of California’s entire state park system.

Here is the list of the proposed park closures. [download .pdf here]

Beginning July 1st, the Governor will cut the parks core funding in half and then eliminate all core funding in twelve months.  Without this money, there will be no choice but to close the majority of our park system.

Even if you are not planning to visit a park soon, the governor’s short-sighted proposal will impact you and every California resident. It is the very definition of “penny-wise, pound foolish”. Consider the facts:

FACT: The General Fund budget that state parks receive account for less than 1/10 of one percent of the entire state budget.

FACT: Last year alone, there were over 80 million visitors to state parks – and all indications are that this year was going to be even higher.

FACT: For every dollar that funds the parks, $2.35 is returned to the state’s General Fund through economic activities in the communities surrounding the parks.

That means eliminating all funding for state parks could actually result in the state losing over $350 million dollars in revenue.

For the financial well-being of our state, we must oppose this reckless plan.  We have had the displeasure of notifying you of threats to our parks in the past.  But this is the worst threat to park system in its 150 year history.”