State Park Advocates Rally at Capitol on June 21, 2011 Against Planned Park Closures

I’ve written many posts about the budget threats in recent years to California State Parks and their hiking trails. I’ve also told you about my support of the California State Parks Foundation, which works tirelessly to keep parks open and accessible for all users from hikers to campers to bike riders to nature explorers.

Here’s important info I just received from the California State Parks Foundation about a rally on June 21, 2011 in Sacramento. Please attend and help out!

Rally for California State Parks at the Capitol in Sacramento

On May 13, the Department of Parks and Recreation released a list of 70 state parks that will be closed because of budget cuts. As part of the FY 11-12 state budget, the state park system will begin to implement $11 million in cuts that will grow to a permanent $22 million General Fund cut by FY 12-13. Advocates representing 52 of the 70 parks on the closure list will be in Sacramento to highlight impacts to their communities of the closures, showcase the natural, cultural and historic resources that will be at risk, and meet with their legislators to seek ways to protect California’s state parks in this crisis.

WHO

EXPO: Volunteers, nonprofit leaders and community activists affiliated with the 70 parks proposed for closures (list of organizational participants below)

RALLY: Speakers for state park rally:

* Elizabeth Goldstein, President, California State Parks Foundation

* Senator Lois Wolk (author of Senate Bill 580)

* Assemblymember Jared Huffman (author of Assembly Bill 42)

* Robert Hanna, Founder, Range of Light, great-great grandson of John Muir

* Alden Olmsted, Filmmaker, son of naturalist John Olmsted

* Representative from the Partnership for Children & Youth Summer Learning Initiative

WHEN

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

State Park Tent Expo from 9:00 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Rally and Press Conference at 10 a.m.

WHERE

North Steps, State Capitol

VISUALS

* Expo showcasing park information and for the parks slated to close.

* Poster-sized photographs of parks on the closure list.

* “Don’t Let State Parks Become Just a Memory” display of over-sized postcards with personal images and messages from Californians around the state to their state legislators.

* A scale model of the Robert Ferguson Observatory, located in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, as well as the Valley of the Moon Observatory Association’s Solar Telescope, available for safely viewing the sun.

* A sugar cube model of Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park made by one of thousands of 4th graders who visited the park this past school year as part of the California 4th Grade Mission Project.

* A replica of petroglyphs from Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.

* Scale model of the Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park.

* Volunteer docents in historic costume from Benicia Capitol State Historic Park, Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park and Railtown 1897 State Historic Park.

Parks Spokespeople Available for Comment, by County

Del Norte/Humboldt

Spokesperson: Jeff Russell, Redwood Parks Association

Representing: Fort Humboldt State Historic Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park

Lake

Spokesperson: Gae Henry, Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association

Representing: Anderson Marsh State Historic Park

Los Angeles

Spokesperson: Carolyn Schoff, President of Friends of Pio Pico State Historic Park

Representing: Pio Pico State Historic Park

Spokesperson: John Luker

Representing: Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park

Mendocino

Spokesperson: Carolyne Cathey, Executive Director of Mendocino Area Park Association

Representing: Greenwood State Beach, Hendy Woods State Park, Jug Handle State Nature Reserve, Manchester State Park, Russian Gulch State Park, Westport-Union Landing State Beach

Spokesperson: Kevin Williams, Point Cabrillo Light Keepers Association

Representing: Point Cabrillo Light Station Property

Mono

Spokesperson: Betsy Reifsnider, Mono Lake Committee

Representing: Mono Lake Tufa State Reserve

Napa

Spokesperson: Wendy Cole, President of Napa Valley State Parks Association

Representing: Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park

Napa / Sonoma

Spokesperson: George Loyer, Valley of the Moon Observatory Association

Representing: Sugarloaf Ridge State Park

Plumas

Spokesperson: Lyn Nafzgar, President of Plumas-Eureka State Park Association

Representing: Plumas-Eureka State Park

Sacramento

Spokesperson: Linda McDonald, Friends of Lake Folson and Notoma

Representing: Brannan Island State Recreation Area

Spokesperson: Ruth Gottlieb, California State Historic Governor’s Mansion Foundation

Representing: Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park

San Joaquin

Spokesperson: Ron Iudice, President of California State Mining and Mineral Museum Association

Representing: California State Mining and Mineral Museum Park Property

San Luis Obispo

Spokesperson: Mary Golden, Executive Director of Central Coast Natural History Association

Representing: Morro Strand State Beach

Santa Clara

Spokesperson: Ann Briggs, Coe Park Preservation Fund

Representing: Henry W. Coe State Park, Santa Clara / Stanislaus

Santa Cruz

Spokesperson: Peg Danielson with Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks

Representing: Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, Twin Lakes State Beach

Solano

Spokesperson: Carol Berman, President of the Benicia State Parks Association

Representing: Benicia Capitol State Historic Park, Benicia State Recreation Area

Sonoma

Spokesperson: Greg Hayes, President of the Valley of the Moon Natural History Association

Representing: Annadel State Park, Jack London State Historic Park

Spokesperson: Michele Luna, Executive Director of Stewards of the Coast & Redwoods

Representing: Austin Creek State Recreation Area

Tuolumne

Spokesperson: Kathy Daigle, Executive Director of California State Railroad Museum Foundation

Representing: Railtown 1897 State Historic Park

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