DEFEND WHAT'S YOURS

Seventy of your state parks are going to close.
Become a defender, spread the word, volunteer, and join us
in this fight to Defend What’s Yours!

 

Defend What’s Yours is an effort to stop the closure of 70 state parks throughout California. In order to save our state parks, citizens need to be aware, informed and engaged. Watch the PSAs above and then walk through the steps below to see what you can do today to defend your state parks.

Haga clic aquí para ver la versión en español de los videos y traducir este sitio.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
BE A DEFENDER
Pledge to defend state parks

Take the easy first step in joining this community of park defenders by signing your name below. By adding your name to the growing list of over 1197 defenders, you show that you support state parks and oppose budget cuts and closures. By uniting your voice with others, you make our efforts to create a better future for state parks so much stronger. And, by joining the community, you ensure that you will be updated and involved in solutions for saving state parks.

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Take Action

Not only does Gov. Jerry Brown's current budget propose to continue the path toward 70 park closures, it threatens to eliminate all lifeguards on state beaches and 20 percent of all park rangers if his revenue package is not supported by the voters in November. The governor’s firm commitment to closing one quarter of our state parks is bad enough, but these public safety threats only add insult to injury.

We need your help to tell this governor to stop playing politics with state parks. Please take a moment to send a message to the governor, opposing his plan for cutting state parks.

SPREAD THE WORD
Tell your friends about it

Now that you are here, we need your help informing others about the crisis facing state parks. Let your friends and family know by sharing these videos with them. Try sending the videos by email. Or post them to Facebook and ask your friends to share it. Tweet hashtag #defendwhatsyours to join the conversation on Twitter. And subscribe to our YouTube channel to find embed codes so you can share the videos on your own websites.

VOLUNTEER
Get involved hands on

What better way to help state parks than by volunteering your time and energy at the parks you love? We have several volunteer programs to choose from. The Park Champions program offers ongoing volunteer days in parks near you. Earth Day is our biggest one day volunteer event of the year, and it takes place on April 14, 2012. Or, for the more politically minded, you can volunteer as an advocate for parks, either in your community or by joining us for Park Advocacy Day on March 20, 2012 at the state capitol.

Park Advocacy Day
Earth Day
Become a Park Champion
Cooperating associations near you
Volunteer as an advocate

JOIN CSPF
Support the movement

Still feel like you want to do more? Help us in a long-term way by becoming a member of CSPF. You’ll be joining 130,000 other members who already support state parks. A CSPF membership helps us keep state parks open, plus you get cool benefits like park passes.

Choose a Membership Level
RESOURCES
Find out more about the issue

Want to find out more information about state park closures? Here are additional resources for you to explore. Don’t forget to read the FAQ for answers to questions citizens are most concerned about.

Save Our State Parks
The Magnificent 70
About the PSAs

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. Why are parks closing?

A. State parks are closing because of budget cuts. Historically, state parks have been predominantly funded by the state's General Fund, but the level of General Fund support for parks has been declining for years. The latest budget cut to state parks in Fiscal Year 2011-12 was the blow to the state parks system that is resulting in closures. The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) decided to close 70 of our 278 state parks that means 25 percent of our state parks system will be closed to the public by July 1, 2012

Q. What will happen if there are no lifeguards on state beaches?

A. Here is some information from the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s website:
  • Aquatic recreation (all aspects) accounts for two thirds of all visitor activity, attendance and revenue generated in state parks.
  • State Parks employ approximately 600 seasonal lifeguards each summer.
  • Approximately 70 permanent lifeguards are on State Park staff.
  • California State Lifeguards perform approximately 10,000 water rescues each year.
  • Since 1967, California State Parks Lifeguards have rescued over 266,818 people!
  • Swimming continues to be the second leading recreational pastime (behind walking) in all national surveys.
  • 50 percent of the United States population is non-swimmers.
  • Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death for all ages nationally.
  • Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in state parks.

Q. Which parks are on the May 2011 closure list?

Anderson Marsh SHP
Annadel SP
Antelope Valley Indian Museum
Austin Creek SRA
Bale Grist Mill SHP
Benbow Lake SRA
Benicia Capitol SHP
Benicia SRA
Bidwell Mansion SHP
Bothe-Napa Valley SP
Brannan Island SRA
California Mining & Mineral Museum
Candlestick Point SRA
Castle Crags SP
Castle Rock SP
China Camp SP
Colusa-Sacramento River SRA
Del Norte Coast Redwoods SP
Fort Humboldt SHP
Fort Tejon SHP
Garrapata SP
George J. Hatfield SRA
Governor's Mansion SHP

  Gray Whale Cove SB
Greenwood SB
Grizzly Creek Redwoods SP
Hendy Woods SP
Henry W. Coe SP
Jack London SHP
Jug Handle SNR
Leland Stanford Mansion SHP
Limekiln SP
Los Encinos SHP
Malakoff Diggins SHP
Manchester SP
McConnell SRA
McGrath SB
Mono Lake Tufa SNR
Morro Strand SB
Moss Landing SB
Olompali SHP
Palomar Mountain SP
Petaluma Adobe SHP
Picacho SRA
Pio Pico SHP
Plumas-Eureka SP		   Point Cabrillo Light Station
Portola Redwoods SP
Providence Mountains SRA
Railtown 1897 SHP
Russian Gulch SP
Saddleback Butte SP
Salton Sea SRA
Samuel P. Taylor SP
San Pasqual Battlefield SHP
Santa Cruz Mission SHP
Santa Susana Pass SHP
Shasta SHP
South Yuba River SP
Standish-Hickey SRA
Sugarloaf Ridge SP
Tomales Bay SP
Tule Elk SNR
Turlock Lake SRA
Twin Lakes SB
Weaverville Joss House SHP
Westport-Union Landing SB
William B. Ide Adobe SHP
Woodson Bridge SRA
Zmudowski SB

See them on a map here.
Learn more about these parks.

Q. When are parks closing?

A. All 70 parks on the closure list are expected to be officially closed by July, 1, 2012 (see note below on keeping parks open), though some parks began shutting their gates as early as September 2011, ostensibly for “seasonal closures.” Over the course of the next year—until July 2012—we expect to see 70 parks lock up their gates one by one.

Q. Will the remaining state parks be impacted?

A. The 208 state parks not on the closure list will continue to suffer from substantial service reductions, such as partial closures (some parks will only be open seasonally or on the weekends), reduced personnel (such as lifeguards), and less maintenance.

Q: What does “closed” mean?

A. There is uncertainty about how parks will be "closed" and will likely be different from park to park. Parks could be off-limits to the public and enter what DPR refers to as caretaker status. This means that gates and restrooms could be locked, trash not collected and trails and other facilities might suffer from lack of maintenance.

Q. Who does this affect?

A. Everyone. California's state parks belong to the people of California and their existence is critical to the state's environmental, economic, and civic fabric. No part of California was spared in this closure list, although there are a disproportionate number of parks in Northern California on the list. More detrimental than any one particular park on the list is the impact to the entire park system. These parks are part of a whole that is interconnected; a marvelous interactive living museum that together defines the eco-systems and historic character of the state.

Q. How did we get here?

A. Since the founding of the first state park—Big Basin State Park in 1902—Californians have worked to protect and enhance a state park system that has grown along with the state and its needs. However, after years of reductions to the state park budget, we have reached a moment when government instead seeks to make the system smaller, less available and less protected than it has ever been. Although park closures have been threatened before, this constitutes the first time in the 100 year history of California state parks that a serious, deliberate effort has been made to significantly reduce the state parks system.

Q. What efforts are being made to keep parks open?

A. As the largest nonprofit dedicated to state parks in California, CSPF is working on several fronts to keep parks open and to improve parks. We are building broad awareness of park closures and engaging you, the public, in helping. We are working to help our numerous partners around the state who are attempting to reopen parks by giving them assistance and financial support. This may mean trying things we've never tried before, but rest assured whatever solutions rise to the top will be consistent with the values of state parks.

Local non-profit organizations are using some real creativity to keep parks open. For instance, the Mono Lake Committee and partners have removed Mono Lake State Tufa Reserve from the list, and the Coe Park Preservation Fund has worked with the state to keep Henry W. Coe State Park open for several years. Other efforts are being pursued across the state.

Additionally, several governmental partners are working with DPR to keep a few parks open. The National Park Service has stepped up to keep three parks on the closure list open for 2012: Tomales Bay, Samuel P. Taylor, and Del Norte Coast Redwoods state parks. The City of Colusa has entered into an agreement with the state for the city to operate Colusa-Sacramento River State Recreation Area for five years.

Q. Why should I care about park closures?

A. Open and accessible state parks are critical for all Californians. State parks are an integral part of what makes Californians proud to live and work here. Closing parks means millions of Californians, and millions more tourists, will no longer be able to use these parks for affordable vacations, to improve their health, or for a relaxing escape from their busy lives. In addition to denying citizen access, closing almost 25 percent of the state park system will have significant economic impacts on local economies. Jobs will be lost, and California's travel and tourism industry will be hit hard.

The true beauty of California is in our ocean waves, our redwood groves, our snow-top mountains, our deserts, our world-renowned beaches, our diverse cultural history, our hiking trails, and, ultimately, in our freedom and ability to see and experience them all. If we don't have these, what do we have? What's left to sustain, inspire and nurture the millions of California residents and visitors?