Prop 21 Protects California's State Parks
Posted October 27, 2010 in Saving Wildlife and Wild Places
My favorite thing about New York was its parks. It’s funny if you think about it, because New York is far from being known for its parks – but they really were my favorite parts of the city and surrounding area. Well, that and the 24-hour delis and subway system. In a concrete jungle, it becomes immensely important to feel some grass underneath your feet and read a book in the shade of a large leafy tree. Summer was the best – to see the parks filled with people playing soccer and football, volleyball and Frisbee; groups barbequing and picnicking, napping and reading - this was summer in New York.
And in my recent transition from New York to L.A. (in search of the endless summer, I guess), I knew my favorite thing would again be the parks. To live so close to such a rich pool of natural landscapes and recreational areas like that of California I had only dreamed of! I even delayed my move out here just to stop and enjoy one of Utah’s claims to fame, Zion National Park, along the way. Luckily we happened to go on Public Lands Day when people can visit the nation’s parks for free and, man, it was PACKED! We drove around for a good part of an hour just trying to find a place to park amongst the swarms of people. And we were all there for the same reasons: parks are a special way to spend time with family and friends for the cost of parking and a cooler packed with sandwiches and beverages.
The importance of parks is why Mayor Bloomberg made it a part of his plan for NYC that each resident should live no farther than ten minutes from a park. Parks keep us healthy and happy, and are necessary to preserve the land we live on and, most importantly, our sanity.
Los Angeles State Historic Park, Photo Credit : California State Parks Foundation
Just like the stars, our urban parks are great for a quick fix of nature -- we just peer up into the sky or pop over to the nearest park. Our national parks, for most of us, are out in the distance and a place we make a note to travel to – but our state parks, they are our planets, our earth, what we really call home. And California has some of the best, which is why the November 2nd ballot in California includes California Proposition 21, to dedicate $500 million solely to protect and keep all of California’s 278 state parks open and available to the public.
The trade-off is that Prop 21 would add $18 to the annual vehicle license fee in order to keep the 278 state parks from being a budget casualty. Eighteen dollars we’d all like to avoid spending, yes, but when considering it would be at least that amount for each person to go to the latest 3D movie and have some popcorn, it seems much more reasonable for my budget to take my friends and family to a state park instead, knowing I’ll have access to any California state park for a year. This fee will allow your vehicle free entrance into all of the state parks all year long, so no more waiting for National Park Day to be able to afford a park outing. For a more thorough discussion of the debate surrounding this proposition, you should read Leila Monroe’s blog on the issue and also check out the California state parks initiative website.
Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve, Photo Credit : Mark Dodge
This weekend marked my first visit to Mammoth, one of California’s vast and sensational recreation areas outside of its cities. With my first trip into California’s beautiful countryside behind me, I'm looking forward to checking out its state parks in the months and years to come – hopefully we’ll be able to continue enjoying these areas at such an accessible fare. Next on my list is San Onofre State Beach Park, which NRDC and our allies saved from being destroyed by a six-lane toll road. Eighteen dollars once a year to see this view as often as I’d like? I’ll take it.
View of San Onofre State Park, photo credit: Pamela Marches
Comments are closed for this post.
Comments
Stacey — Oct 28 2010 01:41 PM
As a life long California Resident who has spent much my life exploring the many State Parks throughout Ca. and watched the State Close many public lands I have enjoyed throughout the years Prop 21 instills the fear in me that many of the State Parks will have very limited access. You see the Fee I and others like me pay to use them on a constant basis is what keeps these parks open. Once the State automatically retrieves the funds at $18 per yer per vehicle (126 a year for my household) these parks will then not need to be open for revenue purposes. Organizations such as the Sierra Club had been defeated in the past because of the Revenue certain parks create. If the state receives the money no matter what, what is the incentive to keep the Public Land Open to the General Public.
Jerry Kobayashi — Oct 29 2010 02:57 PM
Stacey:
This is an interesting comment, and your concerns are certainly worth consideration.
For several reasons, however, I think that it is unlikely Prop 21 will be bad for the park system and public access.
First: funding stipulations. All surcharge revenues will be deposited into a newly created State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund and used only for maintenance and operation of the parks and wildlife services (see page 2 http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/pdf/english/21-title-summ-analysis.pdf).
Second: extensive oversight and citizen involvement. The State Auditor will oversee disbursements from the trust, and the Secretary for Natural Resources will appoint a Citizens Oversight Commission to keep track of the measure's effectiveness in maintaining parks and wildlife. These parties should recognize that public access is an important piece of the park system.
Third: huge extra revenues for park operations mean that there is no excuse to reduce these expenditures. Prop 21 will add at least $250 million NET to annual funding for parks and wildlife services (after subtracting lost revenues from parking and admissions fees), and 85% of this is dedicated to maintenance and operations. How could CA justify cutting back on park services with over $200 million/year more to finance park operations?
I respectfully hope you will consider supporting Prop 21.
Regards,
Jerry