California's state parks on list of top endangered historic places

The California state park system, plagued by maintenance shortfalls, is one of the nation's 11 most endangered historic places, according to a list compiled by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The annual list, which is being released today, focuses on important architectural, cultural and natural landmarks most threatened by destruction through the wrecking ball or neglect. This year, that includes the Topeka, Kan., school central to the historic U.S. Supreme Court ruling Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.

The nation's largest state park system – the first to make the list – encompasses some of California's richest historical and cultural sites, according to the trust. But consistent underfunding has created a $1.2 billion maintenance backlog that continues to threaten historical places like the old state Capitol building in Benicia and the Watts Towers in Los Angeles.

The Washington, D.C.-based non-profit had listed the 278-park system because proposed budget cuts threatened to close some parks until a revised proposal last week restored most of the park budget.

Even though there is no immediate threat of parks closing, the park system is still woefully underfunded, said Richard Moe, president of the trust.

"The public should insist that state legislators and their governors do right by their state parks," Moe said.

Visitors to California's state parks have had to make do with World War I sewer systems at some campsites or crumbling roofs on historic buildings. Mortar in brick walls encircling Sutter's Fort in Sacramento is eroding and is expected to cost at least $1 million to bolster.

"That's just totally unacceptable," Moe said. "The public has a right to expect that the parks are properly maintained."

Last week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger dropped his plan to slash $13.3 million in parks funding – 8.9 percent of the parks department's budget – which would have meant shuttering 48 parks and eliminating lifeguards at some of the state beaches.

"We're grateful for that," said Roy Stearns, a spokesman for the California Department of Parks and Recreation. "But in the long term, the National Trust is correct. We hope this puts a spotlight on this and creates an imperative for budget reform that finally fixes this problem, or we just go on and on."

The governor will still cut $1.5 million from the state parks budget, which will recover that much by boosting day-use fees by $1 or so, Stearns said. The camping season is virtually booked through the fall.

New campgrounds and attractions set to open soon in Southern California should boost revenue, he said.

A spokeswoman for the governor said Monday that Schwarzenegger's commitment to parks is unwavering.

"The governor's record of supporting state parks and increasing the amount of open space in California is unparalleled, even in this very difficult budget year," said Lisa Page, a spokeswoman for the governor.

Highlighting California's parks system should generate awareness about smaller state park systems that are equally underfunded, Moe said.

And he is hopeful.

In the 20 years of issuing the list, Moe said, only seven of the 200 listed locations have been lost.

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