Last Saturday, over the course of 12 hours, Dusty Nelson visited New Brighton, Wilder Ranch, Twin Lakes, Waddell Creek, Natural Bridges and Henry Cowell state parks. But it wasn’t a day of play; Nelson was on a mission. Camera in hand, working on behalf of the Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, he interviewed parkgoers at the six state parks for their thoughts on the California State Parks crisis. The responses he got were much the same.
“I am a Republican and lots of my friends are Democrats, and we’re both saying the same thing: come together, think of the people, think of the welfare of our state,” said a woman identified as Vicki of San Jose. “And some common sense would be refreshing.”
Han Suang of Santa Clara, who was visiting with her family, pointed to the parks’ role as an alternative for working class folk. “We don’t have a lot of money to do vacations. This is a great area for us to come,” she said. Do what you can, just keep them open, Californians told Nelson.
Volunteers have been working tirelessly to spread the word of a proposed solution to the governor’s threats to close the parks: a $15 annual fee added to vehicle registration. This fee would cover yearlong park admission for Californians and support the cost to run the parks and then some. Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, which supports the fee, finished producing the video on Monday and posted it on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and email blasts in a bid to raise public awareness and sway legislators’ votes.
Bonny Hawley, executive director of Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, hopes that through the video, Friends can directly voice the concerns of California state park visitors and educate the public about the budget crisis that has placed 80 percent of the state parks at risk, including all 19 in Santa Cruz County.
Do Californians support the fee? Those in the video did. “Absolutely. Especially if it would give me access to all the parks for a one-time (annual) fee,” said Emily from the Bay Area. “That’s really nominal and totally worth it.” Others say they would be glad to pay double that amount just to keeps the parks open.
To see what others have to say and learn how to help, visit http://www.youtube.com/user/ThatsMyPark1
