California State Parks Foundation Statement on Fiscal Year 2011-12 Budget Proposal

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Today, Gov. Jerry Brown released his first budget proposal for the 2011-12 fiscal year, which contains an $11 million General Fund cut for the Department of Parks and Recreation, the state agency responsible for managing the state park system.  This will undoubtedly lead to increased park closures and service reductions. Language in the budget documents indicate that will grow to $22 million in ongoing cuts. 

“Clearly, this budget will exacerbate existing impacts to the California state park system,” said Elizabeth Goldstein, president of the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF).  “State parks are by no means alone and share the pain in this budget. Many other services and programs that Californians depend on are being similarly reduced.  Together, these cuts will have real impacts.  However, it is a small measure of encouragement to see the governor couple such difficult cuts with a request to the voters to support continued revenues.” 

While no specific list of park closures has yet been made available, the budget proposal indicates cuts will be made in the current fiscal year with a combination of partial closures and full closures.   Budget language also assumes ongoing cuts of $22 million General Fund support for the state park system.  Broad criteria are listed that may be used for closures.  However, without a specific list, the decisions about which parks will close, duration of closures, opportunities to avoid closures, and the impacts of those proposed closures are hard for the public to assess.” 

 Just three years ago, a proposed cut of $13 million translated into closing 48 state parks across California. Since then, budget reductions have left the parks system operating with 150 partial closures and service reductions.  The cumulative impacts of budget cuts and staffing reductions over the last two years have diminished the system so that an $11 million cut today will have even more impact than it would have had two years ago.

 “This is a system that is already operating with insufficient resources, and extracting what will eventually be an ongoing $22 million cut, will exacerbate the challenges facing state parks,” said Goldstein. “While it may sound innocuous to close parks deemed to have low revenue generation potential, or relatively low visitation, doing so creates fissures in the overall system that protects the unique natural, cultural and historic resources of the state.  From previous closure ‘drills’ we know the cost of trying to close parks can be high in terms of damage to resources, theft, illegal activities, loss of economic opportunities in surrounding communities, loss of access to educational resources, and more. 

 “California’s state park system belongs to the people of California and its existence is critical to the state’s environmental, economic, and civic fabric,” said Goldstein.  “Although nonprofit and private partners can never substitute for effective government support and stable public funding for state parks, as a key statewide partner to the state park system, CSPF will continue to work creatively to support the park system and work toward ensuring excellence in California’s state parks.  In the coming months, as the budget process progresses, we will be looking to work with the Brown Administration and the Legislature to keep intact the resources needed to maintain public access, and continue to protect the priceless natural, cultural and historic resources in our parks.” 

About CSPF
With our 120,000 members, the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) is the only statewide independent nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting, enhancing and advocating for California’s magnificent state parks. CSPF is committed to improving the quality of life for all Californians by expanding access to the natural beauty, rich culture and history, and recreational and educational opportunities offered by California’s 278 state parks—the largest state park system in the United States. For more information about California's state parks, visit www.calparks.org.