A better future for
California's state parks

This spring, Environment California rallied public support and stopped a proposal to close 48 state parks. Now we’re pushing plans to get the state park system the funding it needs to keep the parks open and reverse 30 years of serious decline.

In January, the governor proposed closing 48 state parks as part of balancing the budget. Closing these parks would have increased the dilapidation and degradation of the parks, and kept Californians from enjoying these special places.

Once the governor proposed closing parks, we jumped into action. Meeting with staff in the governor’s office, and working with the media and Environment California members, we demonstrated strong opposition to the proposal to close the parks. In one week, more than 31,000 people e-mailed the governor and asked him to keep the parks open.

The good news is that he heard us. For now the parks remain open, but this campaign has taught us that the parks need more protection.

Restoring our state parks
A new proposal has emerged from this chaos that could go a long way toward protecting the parks. Assemblymember John Laird (Santa Cruz) has proposed adding a $10 fee to vehicle registrations. This fee would raise the money that is needed to not only keep our parks open, but allow much-needed park restoration. In exchange, everyone with a California license plate would get into state parks for free (for day use).

When this newsletter went to print, the matter was still being bandied about in Sacramento. For the latest on the proposal, check out our Web site.

A treasured resource
From the Anderson Redwoods State Reserve in Northern California to Moñtana de Oro State Park in central California to South Carlsbad State Beach near San Diego, California is home to some of the most beautiful natural areas in the world. Two hundred seventy-eight of these areas are so beautiful that we have bestowed on them the designation of state parks, vowing to preserve their beauty for future generations to experience and enjoy. These areas are home to thousands of species, many of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. They are visited by millions of people every year, and consistently boost the economy.

Yet over the past 30 years, the well-being of the state parks has declined sharply. A host of environmental problems has plagued the parks, such as air and water pollution, invasive species, and effects of global warming.

However, the most pressing threat to our parks is increased fragmentation. This “death by a thousand cuts” is having a devastating effect on the parks. Mega dairies, toll roads, transmission lines, casino expansions and other developments are all degrading the individual parks, and the system as a whole.

Environment California is working with park advocates across the state to ensure that our parks have enough funding to meet these challenges.