This links to a fascinating interview with California's Director of State Parks, Ruth Coleman, on Patt Morrison's radio program. It shows what the department's top brass are thinking, given the absense of sufficient financial support from the legislature or the public. It shows management's vision for our parks.
You'll hear how other agencies and non-profits might step up to help keep some parks open. And you'll hear how "sponsorship marketing opportunities" can fund parks. Apparently that's not "crass commercialization" because the advertising element doesn't actually occur in the parks - it's limited to signage at retail stores bragging about "saving parks."
Since we love and use our beautiful State Parks all the time, we're ashamed that California can't muster the political will to fund them outright. Instead, our parks are reduced to begging and sponsorships.
Meanwhile, service reductions are already obvious at Topanga State Park. And planning is underway to fully close 70 parks across California. More than 40% of our State Historic Parks will be closed next year. Nine State Beaches will be closed, including two within walking distance of downtown Santa Cruz. Which proves, I guess, that UNDERFUNDED government doesn't work!
What's to keep any of these closures from becoming permanent?
Fresh beauty opens one's eyes wherever it is really seen, but the very abundance and completeness of the common beauty that besets our steps prevents its being absorbed and appreciated. It is a good thing, therefore, to make short excursions now and then to the bottom of the sea among dulse and coral, or up among the clouds on mountain-tops, or in balloons, or even to creep like worms into dark holes and caverns underground, not only to learn something of what is going on in those out-of-the-way places, but to see better what the sun sees on our return to common every-day beauty.
- John Muir
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