California State Park Closures

[BorregoWrangler]

Local gems on list of parks that state could shut down
By Michael Gardner, U-T Sacramento Bureau

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will propose shuttering 220 parks statewide, including these in San Diego County:

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Border Field State Park

Carlsbad State Beach

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

Palomar Mountain State Park

San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park

Silver Strand State Beach

Torrey Pines State Beach

Torrey Pines State Reserve

Cash-starved California may be forced to close some of its most treasured state parks, including Anza-Borrego and Torrey Pines in San Diego County.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget-cutting plan would take more than $213 million away from parks over the next two fiscal years, leaving little choice but to shut down 220 of 279 statewide as early as this fall.

Iconic parks where visitors gasp at towering redwoods, gaze into the emerald hues of Lake Tahoe and learn how life was lived in the Old West could be off-limits to the public. Several state beaches along San Diego's world-famous coast are on the list, as are some mountain campgrounds.

Parks officials yesterday released what they called worst-case-scenario closures. The governor has targeted parks for budget cuts before with little success.

Last year, Schwarzenegger proposed temporarily shuttering 48 state parks and beaches. The plan drew stiff resistance in the Legislature and elsewhere, and was withdrawn.

But the state's budget picture has become much worse since then. Schwarzenegger and lawmakers are staring at an estimated $24.3 billion deficit.

“This is an unprecedented crisis, and things that were previously dead on arrival are a lot more viable in a crisis like this,” said Assemblyman Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael.

Assemblyman Mike Villines, R-Clovis, warned, “Parks are just not going to be a priority over public safety and education, as much as we hate to see them close.”

The governor had warned that more painful cuts were on the way after California voters rejected several budget-related ballot measures last week. Schwarzenegger and the Legislature are just beginning weeks-long negotiations over the cuts. In addition to the parks proposal, Schwarzenegger aides yesterday revealed he will seek an additional 5 percent pay cut for the state's 235,000 employees to save nearly $900 million.

The lower salaries would come on top of a 9.2 percent reduction – through two furlough days per month – already imposed on much of the state's work force. This time there will be no additional furlough days, spokesman Matt David said.

Visitors to the San Diego region could discover closure postings at some of the region's most popular parks.

In addition to Torrey Pines State Reserve and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cuyamaca Rancho and Palomar Mountain state parks are targeted. Others on the list are Silver Strand and Carlsbad state beaches, Border Field State Park and San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park.

Officials said the parks targeted for closure, in general, do not generate enough visitor turnout to offset ongoing costs.

The early-warning list does not specifically address what would happen to rangers and lifeguards, but as many as 2,000 could lose their jobs. The state recently sent layoff notices to 5,000 other workers.

Beaches cannot be fenced off, but the state would probably not maintain restrooms or day-use picnic facilities. Ranger programs would be curtailed and lifeguard towers left empty.

Some local parks that generate more revenue than expenses will remain open.

Old Town State Historic Park in San Diego will keep bustling, thanks to concession fees generated by the restaurants and shops there. Local state beaches that would remain open include Cardiff, San Elijo, San Onofre and South Carlsbad.

Also, off-roaders will still be able to take their vehicles to Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area and to Oceano Dunes on the Central Coast, two popular parks that would remain open because entrance fees cover operational costs.

Statewide, Hearst Castle is the most notable park on the saved list, along with many popular state beaches. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is considered “likely” to keep operating, according to the list.

But threatened closures include several well-known parks, such as Bodie, Humboldt Redwoods, Point Lobos, Governor's Mansion, Pfeiffer Big Sur, Jack London and Año Nuevo.

The closures would be temporary, but no timeline for reopening was provided.

Various proposals to raise revenue to supplement park funding have surfaced in recent years. But the governor has been cool to increasing fees and taxes, contending that voters sent a clear message in the May 19 special election not to raise any more taxes.

State parks spokesman Roy Stearns said day-use fees could double in many locations that stay open. That decision would be left to local park superintendents, who would determine “what the traffic will bear.”

“What we're looking at now is cuts and cuts,” Stearns said. “We have reached the end of the fuse.”

Stearns said the threat to close parks is not a scare tactic, despite last year's reversal.

“We have a worse recession and a worse budget deficit” this year, he explained.

As the governor raised the notion of cutting park funding last week, the California State Parks Foundation issued an alarm.

“The governor's harsh proposal to take general fund support away from California's state parks – even if done over time – will have a profound and devastating impact on parks and on all Californians,” foundation President Elizabeth Goldstein said in a statement.

“Closing parks not only loses the potential to earn revenues that support that park, but it also causes revenue losses to the local economies in communities that surround state parks,” Goldstein said.

“This is not the time to be causing further economic turmoil in communities around the state.”

[gon2srf]

It's terrible to hear our wonderful state has come to this. I know I would volunteer 1 weekend a month to keep ABDSP open. I wonder just how you close Anza Borrego anyhow? I would guestimate it would cost taxpayers more to enforce a closure than is does to keep it open.

[BorregoWrangler]

I would think that it means that they would close the visitor center and main campground and not maintain the facilities at the primitive campgrounds.

[BlueFJ]

Yea, this after that moron wants to sell the Del Mar Track and Fair Grounds to developers. Talk about adding insult to injury. Thank goodness we only have to put up with this idiot one more year. Guess he won't be BACH!

[FunJunkie]

yeah from what I gather they won't be closing them, just shutting off services, trash collection, toilets, etc. that should last a couple months, then it will get shut down because of all the trash and sh1t that will pile up. Seriously, this state needs an enima. Who voted for these idiots??

[OLLIE]

Does that mean we could enjoy the desert without having the CHP pull us over out on the trail???

Just kidding... This is total BS. Irritating in the least.