New Plan to Save State Parks

In the last two years California state parks were on the verge of being closed twice. Budget cuts this year have caused nearly 60 state parks to reduce their hours of operation. Budget cuts have also caused needed maintenance and repairs to be delayed.

To provide a stable source of funding for the state park system the California State Parks Foundation has filed a proposed statewide ballot measure, slated for the November 2010 ballot, which will create the State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010. The act will purchase State Park Access Passes by adding an $18 surcharge to the vehicle license fee.

To get this measure on the November 2010 ballot volunteers are needed to gather the required signatures to qualify the initiative for the ballot. After the California State Parks Foundation hosted organizing meetings this fall and in early January signature gathers will be teamed with 1 or 2 other volunteers from their community.

Please help keep Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park and the other state parks open by going to the California State Parks Foundation web site to sign up to be a signature gather or to fill out an endorsement form.

Stephen Hill, Sr.