California Parks Closure Recap

In January 2011, Jerry Brown unveiled his proposed budget which included a reduction of General Fund Support for state parks by $11 million and a total reduction of $22 million by the beginning of fiscal year 12-13. The California Legislature passed this $22million general fund reduction.

On May 13, 2011 Dept of Parks and Rec released a list of 70 state parks that will be closing due to the budget cuts. Go to the following link to see the parks that will be impacted; https://secure3.convio.net/cspf/site/Adovcacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=289

Assembly Bill 43 (Huffman) was passed on September 6th by the Legislature, a bill to allow nonprofit organizations to help operate state parks that might otherwise close. The California State Parks Foundation sponsored bill cleared both houses of the Legislature with broad, bipartisan votes and is now with the Governor who has until October 6 to sign the bill. AB 42 provides new, permissive authority to the state to work with qualified nonprofit organizations to help protect and keep state parks open.

Many nonprofit organizations are already close partners with the state in providing visitor services, resources protection, educational and interpretive programs, land management expertise and/or financial assistance. Although it is not possible that a nonprofit partner will step forward for every park that will be proposed for closure, in some cases, such nonprofits may have capacity and interest to take on operational roles. AB 42 provides an option to the state to try to alleviate those financial and resource burdens for parks that may otherwise close.

You can go to the following site to urge Jerry Brown to vote for this this bill. https://secure3.convio.net/cspf/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=300