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!
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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.
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 1458 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.
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.
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 |
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.
Q. Why are parks closing?
Q. What will happen if there are no lifeguards on state beaches?
- 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 |
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 |
Q. When are parks closing?
Q. Will the remaining state parks be impacted?
Q: What does “closed” mean?
Q. Who does this affect?
Q. How did we get here?
Q. What efforts are being made to keep parks open?
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?
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?
