Santa Cruz Sentinel - As We See It: Closing down California

09/06/09

Let's not mince words. It would be an outrage to close state parks.

Yes, California's budget is a mess and the deficit is causing cuts to just about every school and social service program.

But because of a lack of political will and courage, one of the state's jewels will be terribly tarnished.

It doesn't have to happen.

Admittedly, closing 100 or so parks -- the announcement is expected this week -- is better than an earlier proposal to shutter nearly 80 percent of the state's 278 parks, but that's like deciding death by famine or by the sword.

Some of Santa Cruz County's state parks and beaches will likely be on the list.

The parks that are closed will probably be those that don't bring in money through camping reservations. New Brighton and Seacliff state beaches are both continuing to accept camping reservations, a sure sign they won't be closed.

But others such as Wilder Ranch, Castle Rock and Forest of Nisene Marks do not offer camping and thus could be on the list.

The magnificent redwoods parks -- Big Basin and Henry Cowell -- do have campgrounds, although they aren't as popular as Seacliff and New Brighton. Sunset and Manresa also have camping.

The parks that are on the list could be closed for two years.

State officials concede they can't make most of these parks off-limits to the public; but there won't be rangers or other services.

Of course, none of these parks should be closed.

State parks have taken a major hit in the budget. In the final budget deal signed July 28 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, parks were cut by $6 million. This brought the total cut for this fiscal year to more than $14 million.

But cutting the park budget just makes no sense -- state parks receive a minuscule 1/10 of 1 percent of the entire state general fund budget.

Moreover, with more than 80 million visitors last year, parks continued to be a revenue generator, bringing in $2.35 in spending by visitors for every dollar spent in the budget.

There are organized groups fighting the closing of parks. Locally, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks is raising money to offset budget cuts and provide operating expenses for local parks.

Statewide, the California State Parks Foundation is rallying public support to sway legislators and raise money to keep parks open.

Meanwhile, parks already are bringing in more money. Last month, parking, camping and entrance fees were raised at state parks and beaches.

What's infuriating, however, is that legislators have simply ignored the proposal to raise the cost of registering vehicles by a relatively small amount -- $15 has been the figure most cited. The money raised would ensure no parks would have to be closed.

But when this surcharge, which also would have made daily access to parks free for Californians, came before legislators, 22 Democrats voted in favor, and 13 Republicans and one Democrat against, with four abstaining. This meant the proposal fell well below the two-thirds threshold.

Like we said, it just doesn't make sense.