A Word From Our President

At Tuesday's joint legislative hearing by the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife and the Assembly Committee for Accountability & Administrative Review, I testified about how our state parks system cannot continue to exist as it does today, let alone strive for improvements or excellence, if the state continues to defund California State Parks. The hearing was standing room only with great park supporters from all over the state filling the room and spilling out into the hallway. I'd like to share with you the recommendations I made to the Legislature during my testimony:

First, do no more harm. The state park system cannot afford additional budget cuts. Further cuts or threats of cuts to the Department will only exacerbate the barriers that exist right now to enacting partnerships for the crisis at hand. Navigating the often incomplete and sometimes contradictory information about what it takes and costs to operate a park on the closure list, minimum standards that will be required to be met in closed parks, services the state may continue to provide, and more, is, itself, an incredibly frustrating barrier facing many potential partners today, and would be worse if additional cuts were enacted.

Second, do not let good deeds get punished. There are already aggressive efforts underway to bring additional philanthropic funding and contributions to the state park system. However, if the philanthropic community sees the Legislature is looking for a way to substitute private money for key public responsibilities, or that their contributions are expected to be open ended, that philanthropic support will evaporate.

Further reduction of General Fund allocation to the state park system, or a failure to add more public funding for parks when the economy rebounds, will be perceived as a punishment for good deeds. That must be avoided at all cost.

Third, support and be part of credible local efforts to keep parks open. I'm optimistic that passage of AB 42 and the broad, bi-partisan support it received reflect an acceptance of this suggestion. But I've operated state and local park systems myself and I know that moving toward new models for operating parks becomes more challenging when the 'rubber hits the road.' CSPF is actively working to develop programs to support organizations that are stepping up the challenges of keeping parks open. We're looking to provide matching or challenge grants for operational needs as well as expertise through a library of consultants to organizations. But your active help and the resources of your legislative office and community connections will also be needed to bring your community together to make a local solution really work.

Finally, support efforts to identify appropriate, mission-centric ways to increase or establish revenues in parks. This is not a call for turning our parks into something they are not. We at CSPF oppose efforts that would sell park lands, give naming rights for parks, or exploit our parks and park visitors for inappropriate commercial goals. On behalf of our members, we will fight efforts that move in that wrong direction. But there is a right direction that must be explored. That direction could contemplate new amenities in state parks, new services, new features that might bring in new park visitors and entice current visitors to pay something extra.

We're collectively tackling the biggest challenges that have faced California's state parks in their 100 year history. I have no doubt we can overcome these challenges but only if we all see ourselves as vital partners in this effort. We all have particular roles to play, for we are the generation that has a greater burden than any before us to leave this state parks system better than we found it, for the opposite is too awful to contemplate.

Closing Parks is Bad for Business

As part of our ongoing Save Our State Parks Campaign, we launched a new business-oriented campaign to send a powerful message to Gov. Brown and the Legislature: 'Closing Parks is Bad for Business.' The new campaign kicked off during our state parks march and rally at the Capitol Tuesday, where advocates gathered to bring awareness to the negative impacts park closures will have on California's economy.

Participants marched from the Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park to the Capitol where they gathered for a rally to emphasize the negative impacts that park closures will have on the economy. Several business leaders addressed the crowd, including: John Severini, president/CEO of CalTravel, Christina Strawbridge, chair of the Benicia Economic Council, Kevin Murphy, general manager of Sports Leisure Vacations, and Christopher Grant Ward of Folk4Parks.

After the rally, participants delivered 125 of our oversized 'Closing Parks is Bad for California' postcards filled with signatures and messages from tens of thousands of park supporters from throughout California, as well as approximately 35,000 citizen petitions urging the governor to protect state parks and keep them open.

Following the delivery to the governor's office, rally participants attended the joint legislative hearing by the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife and the Assembly Committee for Accountability & Administrative Review. The hearing room was filled to capacity by park supporters wanting to learn more about the impacts and status of proposed state park closures. For 4.5 hours the hearing touched on a variety of topics, including an in-depth questioning of California State Parks on how they determined which parks would be included in the closure list. Additional areas discussed were economic impacts of park closures, local and regional perspectives, and the hidden costs of state park closures.

Los Angeles State Historic Park is Blooming

Marigolds and volunteer events are plentiful at the north end of Los Angeles State Historic Park, thanks to a generous grant from the Annenberg Foundation. Since June the Annenberg Foundation's support of the Anabolic Native Garden has provided the local community with volunteer events such as planting marigolds and sprucing up the native garden.

Now through November 7, the Anabolic Native Garden will be host to a public viewing of La Ofrenda, an annual event that celebrates and honors families' ancestors. La Ofrenda, meaning 'the offering,' includes a candle-making workshop and many other community events available for all who come to participate. Monthly community events include native plant tours, garden maintenance and medicine classes. For more information on these native garden events and to RSVP, please contact Program Consultant Olivia Chumacero at chumacero13@gmail.com.

Los Angeles State Historic Park is located at 1245 North Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles. For information about the state park, please visit lashp.com.

Shop Our Online Thanksgiving Sale

This holiday season, you can find something for everyone on your list in our secure online store. And now through the end of the month you can save 15% off everything in the store with our Thanksgiving sale!

Shop for QuailWear t-shirts, sweatshirts, vests and hats adorned with our signature quail logo. Peruse our gardening goodies, like a green thumb gardening bag. Or, get a range of camping supplies like an outdoor grill, blankets, or our best-selling Replica Ranger Hat. And don't forget to order your 2012 CSPF calendar before they run out.

To get 15% off your purchase use the discount code THANKS when you check out.

All store proceeds help support the work of CSPF and allow us to continue as Your Voice for Parks.

Pigeon Point Lighthouse Gets a Makeover

Located 50 miles south of San Francisco along the San Mateo Coast, Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park is home to one of the most beautiful lighthouses on the Pacific Coast. Built in 1872, Pigeon Point Lighthouse is one of the oldest and tallest lighthouses remaining on the West Coast.

CSPF, in partnership with California State Parks, will begin the first phase in restoring the lighthouse this month. This will include removal and restoration of the Fresnel lens, interim stabilization of the upper tower and displaying the lens in the Fog Signal Building.

The lens at Pigeon Point Lighthouse is a First-order Fresnel Lens and one of the largest that was produced for lighthouses worldwide. Built in Paris, the Pigeon Point lens was originally the replacement lens at Cape Hatteras lighthouse, where it was used from 1863 to 1870. It was then stored at Staten Island until being shipped in late 1871 to Pigeon Point Light Station via Cape Horn. It was installed at Pigeon Point in 1872 where it remains to this day. The 8,000-pound lens is constructed with 1,008 individual prisms and casts 24 beams of light over 20 miles in all directions.

Removal presents an opportunity to conduct a detailed assessment of the lens, facilitating maintenance and conservation treatments. The on-site display and conservation of the lens will serve as a significant interpretive experience for the thousands of individuals who visit Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park each year. CSPF could not undertake this important work without the generous support of many donors. Find out more out our work at Pigeon Point here.

Photo © Mark Overgaard

Volunteer in a State Park Near You

CSPF's Park Champions Program has plenty of new volunteer opportunities available in November. Scan the projects from across the state and sign up for one near you. Not only are the volunteer days important, but they are a lot of fun!

Friday, Nov. 11, Burleigh Murray Ranch, Half Moon Bay
Volunteer Core Leadership Training for those interested in playing a larger role in projects at Burleigh Murray Ranch. The training provided volunteers with the skills necessary to plan and lead future work days at Burleigh Murray Ranch and other nearby parks.

Saturday, Nov. 12, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Burleigh Murray Ranch, Half Moon Bay
Volunteers will clear and rehabilitate the century old fruit and nut trees in the historic orchard.

Wednesday, Nov. 16, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Candlestick Point SRA, San Francisco
Volunteers will work to restore the "drum" area and refurbish a park table and sink.

Saturday, Nov. 19, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Chino Hills, Orange County and Inland Empire
Volunteers will finish clearing and restoring the second half of the Hills for Everyone Trail that has become overgrown with invasive European annual grasses while learning about the riparian ecosystem that runs along the trail.

Wednesday, Nov. 30, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Candlestick Point SRA, San Francisco
Volunteers will restore and rehabilitate a picnic area and clear and restore the French drain.

If you are interested in joining us at a workday, please register online. By clicking on the date/time details, you will access an online registration page. Once registered, you will be sent a confirmation email with other details. Registration is important so we can accurately plan for the day. Volunteers are much needed and appreciated. Hope to see you there!

CSPF Photo Contest

Congratulations to photo contestant Katherine Plies for winning the Photo of the Month for October! Her image of "All That Remains" of Bodie State Historic Park among crisp yellow grasses and a sharp blue sky was a standout to our judges. Click here to see a larger version of Katherine’s photograph.

Join our photo contest today and compete for the honor of the next Photo of the Month as well as great prizes like a Lowepro backpack and CSPF membership.

Travel Tips from Weekend Sherpa

Winged Wonderland

Falling leaves aren't the only things fluttering on the 4-mile out-and-back Sycamore Canyon Trail in Point Mugu State Park. The arrival of monarch butterflies also marks the advent of autumn, and Sycamore Canyon is one of the best places for spying them. The trail is lined with camouflage-trunked sycamore trees whose leaves transform from green to yellow to golden brown in fall. As carpets of fallen foliage crackle underfoot, keep an eye out for amber-colored airy dancers: northern-dwelling monarchs are currently migrating to cushier climes, and Southern California offers a balmy respite.

Follow the mostly level trail for 2 miles to a couple picnic tables nestled under a grove of stately oaks with gnarled branches as thick as elephant trunks. Return the way you came to complete your fall foray.

TIP: Hike in the morning when the sun-powered monarchs are likely to be active.

The trailhead begins in Sycamore Canyon Campground, 13.3 miles past Kanan Rd. in Malibu on westbound Pacific Coast Highway. There is a $12 day-use fee for parking in the campground. From the parking lot, walk on the paved road that cuts across the campground to a locked gate where the Sycamore Canyon Trail begins and the pavement ends. Walk for 2 miles to picnic tables under oaks, and return the way you came. No dogs.