State park closure plan should be felled
By: Ken Garcia
Examiner Staff Writer
09/22/09 12:48 PM PDT
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has tried his best to nurture an image as bullish green, pro-environmental leader, but I'm afraid that picture is going to be marred if he insists on a plan to close 100 of California’s nearly 300 state parks.
The problem is the proposal just doesn’t cut it. The plan was first brought up during the budget crisis as a way of saving the state money. But a recent report by state authorities says that potential liability from shuttering the parks would likely offset any savings.
The report found that concession holders would lose millions if the parks were closed, further defeating the idea of instant savings. Besides, the expected $14 million that state could save by shutting down the parks is but a drop of dew on the massive $24 billion deficit California is facing.
The idea of limiting open space in California goes against the state’s self-promoted stance as the land of the great outdoors, a place of unbounded natural beauty. Millions of visitors flock to the parks each year and they remain an essential revenue stream for tourism.
The governor and state lawmakers need to re-think the closure plan and come up with a better cost-saving strategy – one that actually results in savings.
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