Sacramento Bee Logo

Editorial: A brighter day, but temporary, for state parks | The Sacramento Bee

×
  • E-edition
    • Customer Service
    • SacBee Rewards
    • About Us
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Apps
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Twitter, Facebook, Google+, YouTube
    • News in Education (NIE)
  • Newsletters

    • Sacramento Region
    • Arena
    • City Beat
    • Crime
    • Local Govt Salary Database
    • The Homeless
    • Marcos Bretón
    • Transportation
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health & Medicine
    • Traffic Conditions
    • Weather
    • Communities
    • Elk Grove
    • Folsom/El Dorado
    • Roseville/Placer
    • Yolo
    • Sports
    • Kings
    • NBA News
    • 49ers
    • Giants
    • Oakland A's
    • High School Sports
    • Joe Davidson
    • More Sports
    • Raiders
    • NFL News
    • MLB News
    • River Cats
    • Soccer
    • Colleges
    • Golf
    • Autos Racing
    • Politics
    • Capitol Alert
    • State Workers
    • The California Influencer Series
    • Local Elections
    • PoliGRAPH
    • State Worker Salary Database
    • Legislative Gifts
    • Local Elections
    • California Elections
    • Election Endorsements
    • Election 2018
    • Voter Guide
    • Investigations
    • Data Tracker
    • Public Eye
    • Afghan Refugees
    • Nursing Homes
    • Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Election Endorsements
    • Viewpoints
    • Influencers Opinion
    • California Forum
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Submit a Letter
    • Jack Ohman
    • Editorial Board
    • Entertainment & Life
    • Arts & Theater
    • Books
    • Home & Garden
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Outdoors
    • Pets
    • Travel
    • More Entertainment
    • Events Calendar
    • Horoscopes
    • Comics
    • Puzzles
    • TV Listings
    • Sacbee Rewards
    • Food & Drink
    • Restaurants News & Reviews
    • Restaurant Directory
    • Cooking & Recipes
    • Beer
    • Wine
    • Appetizers Blog
    • California
    • Big Valley
    • Marijuana
    • Wildfires
    • Water & Drought
    • Lottery
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Market Summary
    • Cathie Anderson
    • Nation & World
    • National
    • World
    • Technology
    • Family
    • Celebrities
    • TV news
    • Weird News
    • Video Break
    • News Obituaries
    • Death Notices
    • FAQ
    • ObitMessenger
    • In Memoriam

    • The Sacramento Bee Store
    • Golf Card
    • Farm to Fork Dining Card
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • Classifieds
  • Legal Notices
  • Place an Ad
  • Advertise
  • Mobile & Apps

State Parks Funding

Editorial: A brighter day, but temporary, for state parks

    ORDER REPRINT →

July 09, 2012 12:00 AM

Fourteen months ago, 70 of California's 278 state parks were slated for closure. As Parks and Recreation Department Director Ruth Coleman stated at the time, "With proposed budget cuts over the next two years, we can no longer afford to operate all the parks within the system."

But that was the dismal yesterday. Under Coleman's leadership, a much brighter today has emerged for California's parks, a rare and welcome good news story for our beleaguered state.

State parks officials announced recently that 69 of the 70 parks once slated for closure will remain open for the foreseeable future. Only one, Providence Mountain State Recreation Area, which overlooks the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, has closed, but only for infrastructure repair.

Park users can thank parks employees, private businesses, volunteers, philanthropists and citizens who all stepped up to rescue the park system, ensuring that the splendor of California's prized parks can continue to be enjoyed by both state residents and visitors.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The Sacramento Bee

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

Officials held five public meetings across the state soliciting funds, volunteers and ideas. From that effort, 89 organizations rose up to offer assistance.

Locally, Raley's, the West Sacramento-based grocery chain launched a fundraiser called "NickelAid." Every time shoppers eschewed throwaway bags and used reusable cloth bags, Raley's donated 5 cents to the state parks. The $75,000 raised helped keep the historic Governor's Mansion at 15th and H streets in Sacramento open. The Church of Scientology of Sacramento County contributed another $25,000 to the mansion fund.

In addition to donations, park officials have actively sought partnership agreements with private businesses, nonprofit organizations and public entities.

While the state retains ownership and responsibility for all state parks, some campsites and other facilities will be operated by private concessionaires or nonprofit organizations.

Coleman cautions that the current efforts are only a reprieve, not a permanent fix. Most of the agreements negotiated will remain in place one to five years. Nonetheless, the partnerships with private concessionaires and nonprofit organizations, the donations and the volunteerism all represent a new model for how to keep state parks both viable and vibrant in the future.

In 1979, during Jerry Bown's first term as governor, 91 percent of state park funding came from general fund tax dollars. Today, just 20 percent come from the general fund.

Even when state support was more robust, the parks system racked up more than $1 billion in deferred maintenance.

Even if the state's financial posture improves, the partnerships forged during hard times are not likely to go away, nor should they.

Tough times have forced the state to look beyond state coffers for support. And a public that cherishes its parks has demonstrated a willingness to help out in countless ways. The innovation and enthusiasm unleashed should be encouraged in good times as well as bad.

  Comments  

Videos

Story of Amador County deputy digging through snow to rescue woman stranded in freezing house

What kind of house does a $180 million lottery winner build? This one. Now yours for $26 million

View More Video

Trending Stories

Raiders mock drafts: Focus remains on defense, except for one ‘electric’ prospect

February 17, 2019 10:50 AM

49ers mock drafts: Still between two at No. 2, but one candidate is edging the other

February 17, 2019 10:48 AM

Authorities remove cougar from tree outside California home

February 17, 2019 12:56 PM

What the NBA did to bid a fond farewell to Wade and Nowitzki at All-Star Game

February 17, 2019 09:34 PM

Did Colin Kaepernick beat the NFL? Some feel that’s the case, others aren’t so sure

February 17, 2019 11:45 AM

Read Next

New partnership seeks to restore Sierra forests

Environment

New partnership seeks to restore Sierra forests

By Matt Weiser

mweiser@sacbee.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

March 09, 2015 07:07 PM

The Sierra Nevada is many things to California: a mountain playground in winter and summer, a swath of public land stretching nearly the length of the state, and vital habitat for a broad variety of wildlife. It also provides the majority of California’s freshwater supply.

With a fourth year of drought looming, state and federal agencies have launched an ambitious partnership to improve the Sierra’s ability to store and filter water, as well as reduce fire risks, by restoring its forests.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The Sacramento Bee

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE STATE PARKS FUNDING

California state parks budget officials for years unable to explain surpluses

State Parks Funding

California state parks budget officials for years unable to explain surpluses

September 09, 2012 12:00 AM

State Parks Funding

California officials now unsure of size of hidden fund for off-road parks

September 01, 2012 12:00 AM

State Parks Funding

State Worker: Parks investigation documents - Lynn Black interview

August 21, 2012 02:42 PM

State Parks Funding

The parks investigation documents: Read the audit

August 21, 2012 01:09 PM

State Parks Funding

The State Worker: Read Manuel Lopez's account of parks leave cash-out plan, disciplinary documents

August 20, 2012 12:13 PM

State Parks Funding

Accumulated state worker leave prompted California's park scandal

August 21, 2012 12:00 AM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

The Sacramento Bee App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Photo Store
Advertising
  • Place a Classified Ad
  • Place a Legal Notice
  • Place a Digital Ad
  • Place a Newspaper Ad
Copyright
Commenting Policy
Corrections Policy
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story