Parks under budget ax

Governor's plan would close 80% of designated lands.

Published online on Wednesday, Jun. 17, 2009

My first backpacking trip took place at Big Basin Redwoods State Park, tucked in the Santa Cruz mountains. Man, what a soggy and miserable experience.

Not only did Troop 75 get soaked by torrential rain, but my pack got weighted down by a folding lawn chair that my patrol leader made me carry for him. (I actually got off easy. He made another Tenderfoot lug a 2-liter bottle of soda.)

That was my introduction to California's state parks system.

It only got better.

Whether hiking at Angel Island or Point Mugu, mountain biking at Wilder Ranch, camping at New Brighton Beach, climbing at Castle Rock, fishing at Franks Tract or swimming at Emerald Bay, state parks have provided me a lifetime of recreational pleasure and memories.

That's why it's so upsetting that each of these special places could be shuttered.

If Gov. Schwarzenegger gets his way -- and it's looking like he will -- 220 of California's 279 state parks, beaches and recreation areas will close by Labor Day.

Let me repeat that: 220 of 279. That's nearly 80%.

The impending demise of our state parks has been front-page news in the Bay Area and Southern California. Here in the central San Joaquin Valley, however, it's barely caused a ripple.

There's a reason. Compared with most of California, this region has always been underserved by the state parks system. (Though our proximity to three national parks and two national forests help make up for it.)

Our most prominent state park, Millerton Lake State Recreation Area, isn't under the Governator's ax because it collects enough boating fees to be self-sustaining. Ditto for San Luis Reservoir. But three state parks in Merced County (George J. Hatfield, Great Valley Grasslands and McConnel) and Tulare County's Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park won't be as fortunate unless a last-minute deal is reached.

Valley residents who frequent the Central Coast will be in for a shock. The list includes Montana de Oro, Los Osos Oaks, Morro Strand, Pismo and Estero Bluffs.

"These closures will affect almost every California resident," said Elizabeth Goldstein, president of the nonprofit California State Parks Foundation. "Anyone looking at this list will be astounded by the magnitude of what is being proposed."

Yes, politicians have to do something about California's $24.3 billion budget shortfall.

But eliminating all funding for the state parks system, as Gov. Schwarzenegger's latest budget proposal does, seems shortsighted at best. Especially when you consider that the money spent on state parks -- said to be $140 million annually -- represents one-tenth of 1% of California's general fund.

Think about that for a moment. For every dollar in the general fund, one-tenth of one penny goes to state parks.

Doesn't seem like much of a savings. Especially considering the cost in our quality of life.

There are also financial incentive to keep the parks open. A recent Sacramento State study found that state park users, on average, spent $57.63 per visit, which amounts to more than $4.2 billion in positive economic impacts.

Seems to me that saving millions on state parks when closing them could cost billions is awfully shortsighted.

Then there's the practical matter of what "closing" state parks actually entails.

Will they erect barbed-wire fences? Will they hire security guards to keep people out? And what right do politicians have to keep the public off public lands?

They certainly won't keep me out.

The Schwarzenegger administration seems to think that closed parks can simply be reopened when the budget situation improves. How naive. More likely, they'll be overrun by graffiti, vandalism, illegal dumping and other misdeeds.

Monday, Assembly Democrats proposed a State Parks Access Pass that would place a $15 surcharge on vehicle license fees, which would raise about $220 million in revenue. In exchange, all cars with California license plates would be allowed in for free.

Of course, this won't go over well with Republicans who have pledged not to raise taxes to fix the state's budget mess.

I'm not crazy about new taxes, either. But considering the alternative, it would be $15 well spent.