Touring - Calif. State Parks endangered

Saw this on another site - closure list includes at least 4 parks/beaches on the Pacific Coast bike route with Hiker/Biker sites. Please help!

State Park Cuts in the FY 08-09 Budget

* Closure of 48 state parks, including 17 state parks, 17 state historic parks and museums, 3 state beaches, 9 state recreation areas and 2 state reserves (See the full list here)
* Reduce staffing at least 50 percent for lifeguards on state beaches in Orange, San Diego and Santa Cruz Counties
* $4.4 million cut from management and operations of state park system

Mid-Year State Park Cuts in the FY 07-08 Budget

* Revert $30 million General Fund support that was earmarked for deferred maintenance purposes; take from Proposition 84 funds and backfill $30 million cut
* $1 million reduction from general operating support
(From calparks.org)

The list of parks is really serious! Aside from Coe, the list also includes Tomales Bay, San Simeon, Salton Sea, and Portola Redwoods.

For more info, see: http://www.savestateparks.org/

what would happen to the parks' land and where would the money go? and, a maintanence cut shouldn't be a big deal, especially if the spending is on things that don't need to matter enough. and hell yes, why not raise fees, especially at specific state parks, perhaps the more popular ones? bottom line though, the preservation of nature is necessary. its already tragic that one can't give up on modern society, build a cabin, and grow a garden, without having to pay big bucks for it.

Hell yeah. Thats Arnolds budget wizardry. Billions of taxpayer dollars to embryonic stem cell research, but not enough money to keep open the tangible natural treasures. Lots of money for the hopeful projects, not enough for the present useful assets.

Like George Bush the first said: Voodoo economics.

The fees probably have something to do with it. When the support for parks depends on people coughing up as much money to go to a park as any other "attraction", you cut way back on support. I used to support our parks, but the whole thing has left me mildly negative on parks. They go through cycles of neglect and over development that have left the land in worse shape for some of the better known ones than if it had been unassumed.

The fees probably have something to do with it. When the support for parks depends on people coughing up as much money to go to a park as any other "attraction", you cut way back on support. I used to support our parks, but the whole thing has left me mildly negative on parks. They go through cycles of neglect and over development that have left the land in worse shape for some of the better known ones than if it had been unassumed.

Right on!

Might as well let them be bought for a penny some some development company and see how many of us can afford them then.

CNN ran an interesting story (http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/02/05/nature.interest.ap/index.html) about the decline in numbers of people visiting the outdoors a week or so ago. I blogged about it here (http://familyonbikes.org/blog/?p=126). It's really sad that parks are closing, but I can totally understand it if people aren't visiting.

Hell yeah. Thats Arnolds budget wizardry. Billions of taxpayer dollars to embryonic stem cell research, but not enough money to keep open the tangible natural treasures. Lots of money for the hopeful projects, not enough for the present useful assets.

Like George Bush the first said: Voodoo economics.

While this topic is somewhat removed from touring (but maybe not), the stem cell research $$ is funded via a $3 billion bond approved by California voters a few years ago -- while the parks are supported through a combo of user fees and annual state budget appropriations. These funding sources are not interchangeable, as much as some would prefer that. As to Arnold, there is plenty of blame to go around for everyone including the Legislature and the voters.

But ... I plan to ride my 1983 Specialized Expedition today (touring bike content)

If you want something ruined let the government manage it. This is a perfect example. Just remember this when you get government run health care.
Doctor: You need an MRI.
Health care regulator: Get on the waiting list, it'll be about a year.
Patient: I can't afford to go to India for the MRI, I'll wait.
Doctor: I am so sorry your spouse passed away from a brain tumor.
Health care regulator: The Patient died? Good! Brain surgery is too expensive for common folk.
Think the above is exaggerated? In the U.K. the average time spent on a waiting list for an MRI is 1 year. People in Canada or the U.K. that can afford private health care go to India or the USA, every one else dies before "expensive" care is given.

Think the above is exaggerated? In the U.K. the average time spent on a waiting list for an MRI is 1 year. People in Canada or the U.K. that can afford private health care go to India or the USA, every one else dies before "expensive" care is given.

How about some sources for these claims?

How about some sources for these claims?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4657459.stm
Note the 6 month wait for surgery, unless your rich or work for the government.
Check the UK medical blogs as well. There are stories of DIY dentistry.
http://majikthise.typepad.com/majikthise_/2006/05/diy_dentistry_o_1.html

can we lock this thread please? or move it to foo.

Sorry if people feel this was an inappropriate place to post this. I thought people here might want to be aware or take action, given that the state park system in California, with it's hiker/biker sites, is an integral part of bike touring the Pacific Coast, one of the most popular touring routes around.

I'm really surprised at the responses, I must say.

As a neighbor of the Ca. State Park, I have real mixed feelings about this.

I watched as the State Park took over land from private owners. The State Parks have more land then they can manage at the moment. They have to much land. Period.

On the other hand, closing down already existing USED parks is sad, but, this may sound bad, you can sleep in them anyway.

If they close down a park, stay there anyway just don't tell them.

Ca. State Parks are a nice place when they are run right but they are not a good neighbor.

Steven

Anyone here have a feel for the likely outcome of this and when it will be felt? How much will it impact a Pacific Coast tour? Should I be rushing to tour the coast before this happens?

I really, really doubt that California park closures will happen. There may be reductions in services, an increase in fees, but closures? I'm betting no.

The National Park Service has informed Governor Schwarzenegger in a letter that those Federal properties that were donated to the state for use in its park system would revert to Federal control should he choose to no longer fund them. Donations under the Federal Lands to Parks Program was done under the condition that land be open for public park and recreation use in perpetuity.

Additionally, state parks that are closed may not qualify for future funding from the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.

In the end, closure of the parks may prove costlier than remaining open.

In my opinion, this is just a way to rattle the public (looks like it's been sucessful, hasn't it?) and motivate voters to lean on their representatives for solutions to the state budget mess.

Here is a copy of the letter sent to Governor Scwarzenegger from the US Department of the Interior if you'd like to see the particulars:
http://www.eenews.net/public/25/11569/features/documents/2009/07/02/document_gw_01.pdf

A bit unrelated, but here in Illinois Governor Blagojevich did actually follow through on his threat to close several state parks for budget reasons.

Of course, several months later, he got impeached and removed from office, and the new governor reopened them.

Which kind of sucked, because I was looking forward to the free camping opportunities in the former state parks. Instead, I was granted the opportunity to pay for a site, which, if free, would have been a great spot, but at $25, was really lame.

So wouldn't closure of the CA state parks be similar? If they don't have enough money to keep the parks open, they surely don't have enough money to patrol them to root out the unobtrusive bike tourists who may spend a night there. Then you get the best of both worlds: established campsites in nice locations, but no fees and little if any company.

Neil

A bit unrelated, but here in Illinois Governor Blagojevich did actually follow through on his threat to close several state parks for budget reasons.

Of course, several months later, he got impeached and removed from office, and the new governor reopened them.

Which kind of sucked, because I was looking forward to the free camping opportunities in the former state parks. Instead, I was granted the opportunity to pay for a site, which, if free, would have been a great spot, but at $25, was really lame.

So wouldn't closure of the CA state parks be similar? If they don't have enough money to keep the parks open, they surely don't have enough money to patrol them to root out the unobtrusive bike tourists who may spend a night there. Then you get the best of both worlds: established campsites in nice locations, but no fees and little if any company.

Neil

I guess, but I would prefer to stay places where it is legal to do so. The parks would surely be posted as off limits. Additionally they may even look at busting violators as a revenue source.

Well, it sure looks like they're closing up shop. Up to 80% of the CA state parks apparently face closure. I haven't seen anything in the news over the last few days to indicate this has changed.

For a list of parks facing closure, see http://www.calparks.org/takeaction/

I wanted to follow up on this story. A tentative budget agreement has been reached and will be put to the legislature for a vote on July 23 or soon after.

The proposed massive park closures are not a part of this agreement and will not be happening (assuming this agreement passes).

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-budgetrejects21-2009jul21,0,3188419.story

If you want something ruined let the government manage it. This is a perfect example. Just remember this when you get government run health care.
Doctor: You need an MRI.
Health care regulator: Get on the waiting list, it'll be about a year.
Patient: I can't afford to go to India for the MRI, I'll wait.
Doctor: I am so sorry your spouse passed away from a brain tumor.
Health care regulator: The Patient died? Good! Brain surgery is too expensive for common folk.
Think the above is exaggerated? In the U.K. the average time spent on a waiting list for an MRI is 1 year. People in Canada or the U.K. that can afford private health care go to India or the USA, every one else dies before "expensive" care is given.

rubbish

In my morning paper today it said that as a result of the just-passed budget agreement, fewer state parks would be closed. It said the original plan was to close 225. With the new agreements, far fewer would be closed, but details weren't yet available on which. I'll repost if my paper has more info.

P. S. I think this is a very appropriate topic for this forum. There are a lot of bike tourers in California looking to stay in state parks.

In my morning paper today it said that as a result of the just-passed budget agreement, fewer state parks would be closed. It said the original plan was to close 225. With the new agreements, far fewer would be closed, but details weren't yet available on which. I'll repost if my paper has more info.

P. S. I think this is a very appropriate topic for this forum. There are a lot of bike tourers in California looking to stay in state parks.

Thanks. Please do keep us posted.