The California budget crisis dealt the state parks system a new blow today when the governor vetoed an addition $6.2 million in funding, which will probably lead to the closure of at least 100 parks. According to the new budget, the state is cutting a total of $22.2 million from the parks budget. “It’s frustrating that the governor chose to make these additional cuts, despite the fact that our state parks are economic generators for Santa Cruz County and the state,” says Bonny Hawley, executive director of Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, “an important fact as we continue to plumb the bottom of the Great Recession.”
Just last week, following the announcement of a budget agreement, parks supporters expected that only a few parks would close, none in Santa Cruz County. “The governor’s decision to nearly double the cuts to state parks already approved by the legislature is deeply disappointing and will likely mean park closures in Santa Cruz County,” says Hawley. Despite threats, park attendance remains high. However daunting, this is an improvement over the original plan to close all of the county’s state parks and 80 percent overall in California. Over the next two years, state parks face a $51.6 million reduction in funds.
