Proposed Park Closures Called 'Draconian'

Of the proposed local park closures, the State Capitol saw 503,249 visitors last year, while Sutter's Fort welcomed 150,665, according to visitor statistics provided by Hammond's agency.

“These closures will affect almost every California resident,” stated Goldstein. “Anyone looking at this list will be astounded by the magnitude of what is being proposed."

In fact, only 59 parks are proposed to remain open, largely based on the presence of special funding, or because a park has an agreement with local governments for its operations, according to the CSPF statement.

The foundation estimates the state generates a $2.35 for every dollar it spends on parks.

“It’s a zero sum game right now,” said a Schwarzenegger administration staff person, who asked not to be named. “We don’t have the luxury of printing money. Where else do we go? Is education and senior care a higher priority than parks? Probably. There are no good proposals on the table – I mean none of these proposals are good. Why not structure a parks budget around higher fees? Doesn’t the postal service generate its own operating fees? I’d ask the parks department that.”

Roy Stearns, a spokesman for the state parks department, says such a budget is not feasible. “Our parks system is designed to serve all Californians, and I think it does it quite well.” Stearns also told California Progress Report that suggestions California “privatize” its parks wouldn’t work. “We’ve had proposals in the past, but after they penciled out the numbers we’ve never received a proposal.”

Some parks will stay open based on their ability to generate revenue. “We believe the Railroad Museum could break even, based on increasing its admission fees,” said Stearns. Hearst’s Castle also will remain open based on revenue generation. “It’s almost breaking even now,” Stearns explained.

There were impassioned pleas before the budget conference committee late on Tuesday by park docents, preservationists and environmentalists seeking to save specific parks from closure. Joining them were local chambers of commerce seeking to preserve the tourism dollars while harbormasters came to oppose bringing boating and waterways under the state parks department jurisdiction.

One speaker asked conference members, “I wonder if you’ve had the chance to notice that the mural on the wall behind you contains five our state’s parks? I think that says a lot about their importance to our state.”

“It would be economic suicide to close these parks,” said Fred Luna, a volunteer with Stewards of the Coastal Redwoods. Luna pointed out that the California Chamber of Commerce created Sonoma County’s Armstrong Woods in 1934 because they recognized the Redwoods as vital to the local tourist economy. According to Luna’s organization, Armstrong Woods accounts for 13 percent of all visitors to the Russian River region and $50 million dollars in annual revenue to Sonoma County.

Along with concern over the economic effect of the proposed park closures, many were concerned about the potential long-term impact. Among those concerns is species endangerment, including Abalone poaching and exotic desert plant theft.

Historic preservationists warned legislators that shuttering historic structures would endanger the state’s heritage. According to members of the National Historic Trust, preservationists have learned that unused structures are structures at risk for vandalism, arson and theft.

“That’s true,” said Stearns, who we interviewed next to the Stanford Mansion. “The Stanford mansion here has a security guard at night, who will be let go.” Stearns said the Stanford mansion is better off because it is in an urban area where its alarms would be heard, but he admits that California’s historic structures protected by the parks department will be at risk the moment their doors close.

Park advocates also claimed the closure of state beaches will cost lives, claiming the leading cause of death in state parks has historically been drowning and unguarded beaches will mean an increase in the number of drowning incidents throughout the state.

“We employ as many as 600 lifeguards,” said Stearns, who shares the concern that park closures will cost lives. “Our lifeguards rescue literally thousands of people every year.”

According to CSPF, the general fund budget that state parks receive account for less than one-tenth of one percent of the entire state budget, and California parks served more than 80 million visitors. CSPF claims California’s tourism industry could be negatively impacted to the tune of $350 million in revenue, should the proposed park closures be approved.

“There are tough decisions ahead, but they also have to be smart decisions,” said Assembly Speaker Karen Bass.

For more information on proposed park closures click here