SACRAMENTO, Calif.
-- Gov. Brown signed Assembly Bill (AB) 42 (Huffman), the bill
sponsored by the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) to help keep
California’s state parks open earlier today. AB 42 is the only
legislation advanced in this legislative session that provides a new
tool to help try to keep California’s state parks open.
“Although we were obviously disappointed at the decision to close
parks in the first place, we’re pleased Gov. Brown has agreed that our
state parks can benefit from support, care, and stewardship by
nonprofits organizations in these difficult times,” said CSPF President
Elizabeth Goldstein. “AB 42 is an important new tool for California to
invite and engage qualified nonprofit organizations to help protect the
state parks that belong to all of us. Our state park system was created
by the creativity and passion of dedicated citizen groups, and it is
time for today’s generation of organizations to pick up the torch.”
The signing of AB 42 into law comes at the same time the Department of
Parks and Recreation begins the process of closing state parks.
Around the state, some of the 70 parks slated for closure are already
seeing significant portions and areas of individual parks close. All of
the 70 parks on the closure list are anticipated to have service
reductions enacted between now and next spring that will become
permanent closures on July 1, 2012.
“In the more than 40-year history of CSPF, we’ve never seen our state
parks system at as much risk as it is today,” said Goldstein. “Even
with the success of AB 42, there may still be parks for which there is
no easy solution, nor available community ‘safety net’ to keep them
open. That is a difficult future to contemplate. In the coming months,
we will be working to encourage qualified nonprofit organizations to
pursue agreements under the provisions of AB 42, and we remain committed
to helping organizations, businesses, agencies, and Californians
identify ways they can help work to save our state parks.”
About CSPF
With our 120,000 members, the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF)
is the only statewide independent nonprofit membership 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 calparks.org.
About SOS
The Save Our State Parks (SOS) Campaign is a statewide, grassroots
campaign to keep California’s magnificent state parks open. In
partnership with organizations, businesses, local governments, and
individuals around the state, the California State Parks Foundation is
leading SOS Campaign activities and generating awareness and action
about these unacceptable budget proposals. For more information visit: savestateparks.org.
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