The Governor’s plan to close 70 state parks
– or about one in four – sends a clear message to voters. The
legislator and voters are unwilling to raise taxes to balance the
budget and that leaves things like state parks on the chopping
block.
The Governor’s plan to close 70 state parks – or about one in four – sends a clear message to voters. The legislator and voters are unwilling to raise taxes to balance the budget and that leaves things like state parks on the chopping block.
And that makes things clear to the public. We’re going to have to pay to use the parks. And we should.
Henry W. Coe State Park is on the list of cuts that were mandated by a bill passed by the Legislature in March. The real affect of closing so many state parks is coming to fruition now.
Brown’s proposal keeps open the parks that produce the most revenue such as Hearst Castle and many beaches in Southern California that attract millions of visitors each year.
In this economy, when we’re struggling to pay police, firefighters and teachers, it’s time to institute a pay to play system.
Despite the large number of parks identified for closure, at least 92 percent of today’s attendance will be retained, 94 percent of existing revenues will be preserved, and 208 parks will remain open, Brown’s office reported.
If every park user paid a day-use access fee and a long-term camping fee along with the current nominal parking fee, that could go a long way to keeping all 278 state parks open and in use, and keep the thousands of state park workers employed.
The threat to close Coe has been in the news before. In 2009, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed cutting 220 of 278 state parks to save $70 million, though the plan was later revoked and instead 32 state parks are now managed by cities, counties or non-profit organizations. And in November, voters rejected Proposition 21 that would have added an $18 annual fee on vehicle registrations to provide funding for state parks.
“We can begin to seek additional partnership agreements to keep open as many parks as possible,” state parks Director Ruth Coleman said. “We already have 32 operating agreements with our partners – cities, counties and nonprofits – to operate state parks, and will be working statewide to expand that successful template.”
Perhaps we can expand that nonprofit model here with the Pine Ridge Association – an official state park cooperating association that was formed in 1975 to assist park staff in designing interpretive and educational programs and presenting the programs to the public – and include the nominal fee, and keep all parks open, and perhaps even enhance operations.
Times have changed. When we’re having a hard time to fund even basic services, maybe it’s time to pay to play.
The governor must submit his final budget revision before July 1 when the next fiscal year begins, until then, the 38,000 people who visit the park that was donated by Henry Coe’s family in 1953 can depend on the park to remain open. But it may not last.
Contact State legislators at www.legislature.ca.gov/
