Greenwire: March 28, 2012
PUBLIC LANDS: Private donors chip in to keep Calif. parks open
California has struck deals with private donors, foundations and other entities to keep open 11 state parks that were threatened with closure under budget cuts, officials said yesterday.
The agreements will keep the 11 parks open for one to three years, said California State Parks spokesman Roy Stearns, who noted that more deals are in the works.
Last year the agency announced the state's financial problems would force 70 of its 278 parks to close. Most of the parks on that list are in Northern California.
The systems' operating and maintenance budget has fallen from $175 million five years ago to $110 million next year. All parks have seen slashes in services and staffing, and a budget deal would require more cuts if Gov. Jerry Brown's (D) proposed tax increases are not approved (Bettina Boxall, Los Angeles Times, March 28). -- AS
