A Rallying Call to Save Our Parks
When the state budget falls short, beauty will be the first casualty to behold the pink slip. By July 2012, the State of California will close 70 state parks to save as estimated sum of $11 million, increasing to $22 million in fiscal year 2012-2013. Organization
When the state budget falls short, beauty will be the first casualty to behold the pink slip. By July 2012, the State of California will close 70 state parks to save as estimated sum of $11 million, increasing to $22 million in fiscal year 2012-2013. Organizations that step up and heed the call of public service with the princely sum of $150,000 to $200,000 for each park can prevent the closures. So far, only nine of the 70 have avoided the specter of death, a sad state of affairs for one of the best-prized parks systems in the United States.
Furthermore, looming budget cuts also threaten the welfare of the remaining 209 parks. One organization that tries to close the gap is the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF). This year, CSPF will host its 15th Annual Earth Day Restoration and Cleanup on April 14. CSPF, which has contributed more than $6.1 million of park maintenance and improvements and raised $4 million for the same purpose since its inception, is seeking volunteers to assist with overdue repairs, plant trees, restore wildlife habitat and perform general maintenance at 15 parks statewide.
Standing behind CSPF are sponsors Pacific Gas and Electric Company, which generously endowed $210,000 towards this one-day effort. Split between 15 recipients, the overall amount equates to $15,000 per project, coupled with the availability of manpower from enthusiastic volunteers. Small beans for one of the largest land owners of the state and who undoubtedly makes millions of dollars annually from dependent citizens. Surely they could drum up the support it takes to save one or two more parks? Add to this the fact that past sponsors have done no better, given that they include resource giants Edison International, the Home Depot and Chevron Oil. Last year’s take away was over $100,000.
When it comes down to it, parks are one of the last nearly free refuges to which people can flee in order to escape the turmoil of daily life. To close these parks, many of which stand in Northern California, is nothing short of sacrilegious. So yes, you as volunteers should stand up and do your part by participating in community Earth Day movements. But corporations, shame on you for not loosening your wallets a little more to help those in need.
Visit the CSPF website at calparks.org/programs/earth-day for a list of state park projects.
