Which parks will live and which will die
I just received this:
This evening, we did receive the list of parks to be closed. It is as bad as we thought. I’ve gone through them and matched them to legislators’ districts, as CSPF will be using this to communicate the district impact to affected legislators. We’re posting this list on our web site tonight.
Also, I received a list of parks that will remain open, attached is a document from DPR to that affect.
As I discussed on a call with many partners this afternoon, it is important that we all activate our networks to oppose these closures, and now, with the list, some of you may have even more urgency to do so. Please feel free to direct your networks to our online action alert at www.calparks.org/stopclosures, where they can send communications to their legislators and the Governor. Also, I welcome more participants at Tuesday’s Legislative Budget Conference Committee in Sacramento, which will be the only opportunity for public testimony in front of the Legislature on this issue.
Please contact me with any questions. Will keep updating if I get more information.
Traci Verardo-Torres
Vice President, Government Affairs
California State Parks Foundation
1510 J Street, Suite 120
Sacramento, CA 95814
TEL: 916.442.2119
FAX: 916.442.2809
www.calparks.org
Comments
As a retired Art and Cultural Historian and teacher, I strongly oppose the closing of any historical venue in California. These parks, sites and historical buildings are the citizens' heritage and we should all have access to them. This is essential for teaching, for the next generations to understand their cultural heritage and in summary to remain civilized.
Posted by: Marie-Jo Dulade-Coclet | May 29, 2009 07:09 AM
Please don't close Will Rogers it is a historical landmark of Los Angeles that should not be lost.
Posted by: Richard Conti | June 1, 2009 11:11 PM
closing state parks is pennywise pound-foolish. our last thriving industry, the tourist industry, is now doomed !!!
Posted by: wes dawson | June 2, 2009 04:36 PM
I have downloaded and read both lists you posted; parks that will remain open, which are very few, and rather small by comparison to many that will close, most of which I have visited. Surely I am misunderstanding this list; is it possible that the most beautiful parks, Castle Rock, Will Rogers, Red Rocks, Big Basin Redwoods, etc. ... are all of these parks closing, and only those on the second list (with funding listed) are to stay open? Please tell me I am misunderstanding. If I am not, it seems that many of the most gorgeous edifices of natural beauty in California will be closing--what will happen to them? Will they be sold for private development? It is a tragedy.
Posted by: Aya Peard | June 4, 2009 11:43 AM
Yes, if the plan is approved as presented, all of those beautiful parks you mentioned will be closed down. The criterion for being saved or being closed was not their beauty or importance--it was simply whether they currently turn a profit.
Posted by: Walter | June 4, 2009 12:09 PM
This is so sad - having grown up in California and seeing it's beauty all my life, I feel heartsick of how I've taken for granted that these beautiful parks would always be here. Parceling and selling them off for wealthy housing developments would be terrible - or maybe they would sit closed for a long period - how would they keep people out?
Posted by: Meredith Chapman | June 6, 2009 10:15 AM
Great, so the parks to remain open are the ones that host power boats and off road vehicles. Truly sad.
Posted by: Doug Graham | June 10, 2009 08:07 AM