Well, this was telegraphed for a while, with the Governor hedging on the parks system. But today we get the news that the state parks system is closing down 70 state parks.
State parks officials today announced the closure of 70 parks because of the state budget deficit, including the governor’s mansion and the Stanford mansion in Sacramento.
Gov. Jerry Brown’s January budget plan proposed reducing the state parks budget by $22 million. The Legislature in March approved $11 million in cuts to state parks and $10 million in cuts to off highway vehicle parks in the next fiscal year, with $22 million in cuts to state parks in future years.(SacBee)
The state parks system attempted to cut judiciously, and claim that they will retain 92% of visitors and 94% of revenues. And that’s all well and good, but what does it say about our state that we can’t even afford our state parks? Do we look like a state that will offer the next generation a better future as we are cutting our parks and slashing education funding?
Over the flip you’ll find the list of state park closures.
Anderson Marsh SHP
Annadel SP
Antelope Valley Indian Museum
Austin Creek SRA
Bale Grist Mill SHP
Benbow Lake SRA
Benicia Capitol SHP
Benicia SRA
Bidwell Mansion SHP
Bothe-Napa Valley SP
Brannan Island SRA
California Mining & Mineral Museum
Candlestick Point SRA
Castle Crags SP
Castle Rock SP
China Camp SP
Colusa-Sacramento River SRA
Del Norte Coast Redwoods SP
Fort Humboldt SHP
Fort Tejon SHP
Garrapata SP
George J. Hatfield SRA
Governor’s Mansion SHP
Gray Whale Cove SB
Greenwood SB
Grizzly Creek Redwoods SP
Hendy Woods SP
Henry W. Coe SP
Jack London SHP
Jug Handle SNR
Leland Stanford Mansion SHP
Limekiln SP
Los Encinos SHP
Malakoff Diggins SHP
Manchester SP
McConnell SRA
McGrath SB
Mono Lake Tufa SNR
Morro Strand SB
Moss Landing SB
Olompali SHP
Palomar Mountain SP
Petaluma Adobe SHP
Picacho SRA
Pio Pico SHP
Plumas-Eureka SP
Point Cabrillo Light Station
Portola Redwoods SP
Providence Mountains SRA
Railtown 1897 SHP
Russian Gulch SP
Saddleback Butte SP
Salton Sea SRA
Samuel P. Taylor SP
San Pasqual Battlefield SHP
Santa Cruz Mission SHP
Santa Susana Pass SHP
Shasta SHP
South Yuba River SP
Standish-Hickey SRA
Sugarloaf Ridge SP
Tomales Bay SP
Tule Elk SNR
Turlock Lake SRA
Twin Lakes SB
Weaverville Joss House SHP
Westport-Union Landing SB
William B. Ide Adobe SHP
Woodson Bridge SRA
Zmudowski SB
I think if the democrats want to try targeting republican districts/constituencies with cuts this would be a good opportunity.
I’d guess that the ‘off highway vehicle’ recreation users & businesses dependent on them tend republican so zero that out. Then favor cuts in the districts of legislators who think that tax reduction is the only really important policy. If they want state parks they can start negotiating.
They bring in significant dollars on their own, renting out the various buildings, and it’s a glorious section of the coast. We saw a harbor seal and calf hanging out in the inlet adjacent to the lighthouse.
Clemente and Crystal Cove. It hurts me, but puts heat on the delegation that disenfranchised us by refusing to permit a special election. It brings constituent heat on those lock-step Rethugs who oppose tax extensions.
What will happen to the tule elk if they “close” the park? Open season?
Keep in mind, we went to the voters last year, and gave them the option: Pay a little more on auto registrations, sweetened it with free parking at all state parks, to pay to keep them open.
The voters decided they didn’t want to pay to keep the parks open, so it makes sense to close them. I don’t like it, but this is what the voters want.
Or, expressed as a percentage:
0.0255813953%