California State Parks Budget Crisis Threatens Mountain Bike Access/Park Closures

[bobdivot]

Its just coming out that with the massive state budget deficit, Arnold is proposing closing 48 CA State Parks among other major cuts

I know that a lot of the cuts are state beaches which will suck, but does anyone know how many are our trails such as CHSP?

The education cuts, early release of prisoners, health care etc. will be bad enough but the park closures will be rough for this group

With this deal a possibility I think we should all get off our saddles and raise holy hell with local and state reps and the like

Remember the squeaky wheel gets the grease and its time to squeak

[sailcalifornia]

I think we need to do something like what they did at Black Rock in Oregon. It would finally be our chance to take control of an area and build it how we want. www.BRMBA.org

[jcbikeski]

CHSP isn't on the cutting block. Here's an article that lists closures http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...ck=1&cset=true.

Note that beaches are mainly cuts in life guards. Others listed like San Jacinto are only to close one of the two camp grounds but not the park (wilderness) otherwise. So read carefully.

[destroyer]

Originally Posted by sailcalifornia

I think we need to do something like what they did at Black Rock in Oregon. It would finally be our chance to take control of an area and build it how we want. www.BRMBA.org

That would be awesome!

[ghixon]

I don' think they would actually close a state park. I think they just stop staffing and maintaining them and turn responsibility over to a conservancy group. It isn't always a bad thing. Groups like IMBA, SHARE and in a smaller regard, the Warrior's Society could have a more direct impact on how and what happens in the local area.

It would be interesting so see what happens to the budget.

[Shannon]

We have some beautiful land up here that was set aside for a state park/ public use. Unfortunately, the local representatives claim that the state spends so much money to buy the land they they don't have enough money in the budget to properly open it and make it safe, etc for public use. So it just sits there. Off limits to the public. Up here in the Central Coast. We have acres and acres of rolling hills and country side, but it's mostly privately owned. So all we can do is gaze and sigh at all the potential mountain bike trails and dare to dream we can someday explore more trails. It's very frustrating to hear now that the Gov. is proposing to close some state parks/ recreational areas to cut the budget.

[jcbikeski]

Originally Posted by ghixon

I don' think they would actually close a state park. I think they just stop staffing and maintaining them and turn responsibility over to a conservancy group. It isn't always a bad thing. Groups like IMBA, SHARE and in a smaller regard, the Warrior's Society could have a more direct impact on how and what happens in the local area.

Many would be truly closed with entrances blocked, but the LA Times article says they haven't decided whether to ticket those that ignore the closure.

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by jcbikeski

Many would be truly closed with entrances blocked, but the LA Times article says they haven't decided whether to ticket those that ignore the closure.

$30K a year to provide services for each inmate.

What would we do with all the prisoners?.......use your imagination

[sailcalifornia]

in defense of the govanator, we are running a 14 BIllion (pronounce like Dr. Evil) dollar deficit, state parks are easier to cut then say, Law Enforcement, education, ect, which are also getting cuts

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by sailcalifornia

in defense of the govanator, we are running a 14 BIllion (pronounce like Dr. Evil) dollar deficit, state parks are easier to cut then say, Law Enforcement, education, ect, which are also getting cuts

170,000 inmates x $30,000 (cost per year) = $5,100,000,000

[allison]

Originally Posted by sailcalifornia

in defense of the govanator, we are running a 14 BIllion (pronounce like Dr. Evil) dollar deficit, state parks are easier to cut then say, Law Enforcement, education, ect, which are also getting cuts

I would go into my opinion of why, but I doubt it'd be very popular. It has to do with providing goverment services to those that shouldn't be getting them and don't ever pay for them (school, medical care, etc.).

Instead of closing down parks and cutting education they need to stop providing free stuff to non-citizens (or those that don't pay taxes).

[foofighter]

an island dedicated for these peeps sounds really good right about now. Let them fend for themselves

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by allison

I would go into my opinion of why, but I doubt it'd be very popular. It has to do with providing goverment services to those that shouldn't be getting them and don't ever pay for them (school, medical care, etc.).

Instead of closing down parks and cutting education they need to stop providing free stuff to non-citizens (or those that don't pay taxes).

Allison I think my take on prisons will make me the villain in this thread

[ghixon]

Originally Posted by jcbikeski

Many would be truly closed with entrances blocked, but the LA Times article says they haven't decided whether to ticket those that ignore the closure.

The same thing happen in Montana a few years ago. Most of the affected parks up there were turned over to local control and were partnered with local advocacy groups and local 4x4 and rancher's groups. It seems to be working so far. There's a huge difference between California and Montana. In Montana, if you fell and hurt yourself, you got up and laughed at yourself for falling down. Here in Ca, you look for the first person to blame and sue for your lack of ability.

It would be nice to keep these areas open to access and work with the local land mangers to develop a way to keep these areas safe.

[~ Pakiha ~]

List Of Calif. Parks To Close In Budget Proposal

SACRAMENTO (AP) ― From north to south, here are the 48 state parks, beaches, reserves and recreation areas that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is proposing to close to help balance the state budget. The parks would be closed until enough money is available to reopen them. The governor's office also said some parks could be turned over to local governments to operate.

• Del Norte Redwoods State Park.
• Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park.
• William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park.
• Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area.
• Plumas-Eureka State Park.
• Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park.
• Manchester State Beach.
• Clear Lake State Park.
• Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.
• Austin Creek State Recreation Area.
• Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve.
• Governor's Mansion State Historic Park.
• Sutter's Fort State Historic Park.
• State Indian Museum State Historic Park.
• Tomales Bay State Park.
• Petaluma Adobe State Historic Park.
• Benecia Capitol State Historic Park.
• Benicia State Recreation Area.
• Candlestick Point State Recreation Area.
• Railtown 1897 State Historic Park.
• McConnell State Recreation Area.
• California State Mining and Mineral Museum
• George J. Hatfield State Recreation Area.
• Wassama Round House State Historic Park
• Portola Redwoods State Park
• Great Valley Grasslands State Park
• Henry W. Coe State Park.
• Fremont Peak State Historic Park.
• Fort Ord Dunes State Park.
• Limekiln State Park.
• William Randolph Hearst Memorial State Beach.
• San Simeon State Park.
• Harmony Headlands State Park.
• Estero Bluffs State Park.
• Morro Strand State Beach.
• Los Osos Oaks State Reserve.
• Montana de Oro State Park
• Providence Mountains State Recreation Area.
• La Purisima Mission State Historic Park.
• Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park.
• Los Encinos State Historic Park.
• Topanga State Park.
• California Citrus State Historic Park.
• Will Rogers State Historic Park.
• Pio Pico State Historic Park.
• Mount San Jacinto State Park.
• Salton Sea State Park.
• Picacho State Recreation Area.

Here are the 16 state beaches where Schwarzenegger is proposing to cut the number of lifeguards:
• New Brighton.
• Seacliff.
• Manresa.
• Natural Bridges.
• Sunset.
• Bolsa Chica.
• Huntington.
• Doheney.
• San Clemente.
• San Onofre.
• Carlsbad.
• South Carlsbad.
• San Elijo.
• Cardiff.
• Torrey Pines.
• Silver Strand. (© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

[dstepper]

Taken over by local land managers? Great then we will have docent only rides.

[sdyeti]

Man, 10% cut in education is going to HURT! Oh, but (I am saying this in sarcastic tone) we still have to raise test scores! WTF?!?

Ohhh, that's right, we can get blood from a stone, dontcha know?