After 70 state parks were threatened with unprecedented mass closure in 2012, the fate of 87,00 acres of majestic South County backcountry is in the hands of advocates who said,
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Enough. Let’s do something.
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After 70 state parks were threatened with unprecedented mass closure in 2012, the fate of 87,00 acres of majestic South County backcountry is in the hands of advocates who said, “Enough. Let’s do something.”
One of these supporters is Gilroyan Dan McCranie, a hiking/backpacking enthusiast who knows Henry W. Coe State Park like the back of his hand after traversing the area for more than two decades.
Alongside six members, McCranie – board chairman of ON Semiconductors and co-owner of Ladera Grill in Morgan Hill – is behind the Coe Park Preservation Fund established earlier this year. The group is on the verge of an agreement that will keep Coe, a.k.a. “the wilderness next door” and second largest state park in California, open for at least three years with private donations and the park’s regular revenue.
Pausing to consider the fate of 69 parks that could close by 2012, CPPF Director Libby Vincent said she isn’t aware of other activists trying to launch something as comprehensive as an on-going endowment fund to save an entire park. Coe is lucky for the “smart, intelligent, articulate people who are focusing in politically savvy ways to stop this nonsense,” said Vincent, who underlined McCranie as a driving force behind the effort.
For those in sync with Coe’s manifold highlights – educational programs, outdoor recreation, the historic Gilroy Hot Springs, multiple ecosystems supporting elusive wildlife and a dazzling array of more than 700 plants – “You ask yourself, why are these resources on the chopping block?” McCranie mused. “Why would (the state) give that up?”
Distant talks of reviving closed parks once the state government “gets healthy again” aren’t entirely reassuring, he pointed out.
“Once these things go away,” McCranie said, “they tend to go away forever.”
Formation of the CPPF was triggered in February, after the state government opted to shutter 70 of 278 state parks in an effort to shrink California’s $86-billion budget. Aiding the CPPF’s efforts is last week’s passing of two bills, which will allow cities, counties and nonprofit groups to help operate state parks on deck for closure after $22 million was cut from the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
With familiar treasures such as China Peak Camp in Marin, Limekiln in Big Sur and Moss Landing in Monterey County, transitioning from public domain to off limits for visitors, Coe’s grass-roots lifesavers are nothing short of a miracle.
“What would happen if we didn’t form the fund? That would have been it,” McCranie said.
No more backpacking through mysterious groves of twisting Manzanita trees, no more trotting through shimmering streams on horseback, no more meandering through downy meadows teeming with wildflowers, no more mountain biking up chaparral slopes to breathtaking vistas.
“We were told Coe was going to close by July 1, 2012,” he said. “And that was that.”
For now, a CPPF donation of $300,000 each year for three years, coupled with the park’s annual revenue of $100,000 generated by camping, day-use fees and paying visitors, will keep Coe open. McCranie said the $300,000 will be delegated to the state by the CPPF annually for operating, maintenance and staff expenses, helping to fund full-time positions for two resident rangers, a maintenance person and two park aids who assist the rangers. Coe is also cared for by a dedicated force of 125 volunteers.
The Dispatch attempted to reach Coe rangers for comment, but calls were not returned as of press time.
As it awaits official nonprofit status, the CPPF is classified as a subordinate organization of the Pine Ridge Association; a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable agency formed in 1975 to support projects and programs at Coe Park.
As acting treasurer for CPPF, McCranie declined to venture into specifics about where the private donations have come from, but confirmed, “We have told the state that we guaranteed funding for the first three years.”
Describing the landscape as “heart-stoppingly beautiful,” McCranie harbors a deep-rooted connection to the park where he often hikes solo or with his 37-year old son, Morgan.
Rattling off vivid descriptions of his favorite haunts, McCranie describes Manzanita forests; wildflowers in Paradise Flats; “golden hills against the dark, evergreen trees” in summer and late fall; fog pooling into lush hillsides in the thick of winter.
If you want to see “vistas that will make you cry,” he adds, sorting out a personal favorite, “do Blue Ridge. Some of those views of the meadows – especially in the springtime … they’re something else.”
While the CPPF on its website gives “special acknowledgment” to McCranie, “whose generosity made this agreement possible,” he insistently declares himself a “junior partner in this whole thing.”
Swiftly passing due recognition to his fellow CPPF members – some longtime volunteers of 30 years, others avid outdoors enthusiasts, hikers or backpackers – McCranie declared, “Thank goodness for guys like them, who said, ‘Enough. Let’s do something.'”
He mentioned CPPF secretary Winslow Briggs; his wife President Ann Briggs, Director Libby Vincent and Webmaster Bob Patrie – a Scotts Valley resident who, along with Winslow, is responsible for creating a comprehensive map of the entire park.
Winslow, a professor emeritus at Stanford University and Coe hiker of 34 years, recognizes chances of long-term success are “slim.”
“But we can’t just lie down and let it happen,” he rations. “We’re hoping against hope this is going to inspire some other people to do the same thing. Time is running out.”
When Coe’s imminent closure became reality, his reactions progressed from handwringing, to denial, to anger, followed by the “outrage of the whole thing,” McCranie recalled. “But sooner or later, you’ve got to get into acceptance and figure out what you’re going to do about it.”
Describing the closure of 70 state parks as “a tragedy,” CPPF Director Libby Vincent is slightly more candid.
“It’s scandalous of the state to close lands that have been purchased with public money, and say, ‘Stop. No. You can’t come in,” said the Palo Alto resident and Coe volunteer of 20 years. “I don’t care what the budget crisis is; $22 million in a budget of billions is nothing.”
According to the California State Parks Department, shuttering Coe will yield an estimated savings of $595,645; an ongoing savings of $445,645 and “likely” ongoing closure costs of $150,000. The State Parks Department justified the closure due to high operating costs and low visitation compared with other state parks; Coe had 34,207 visitors in 2009-10, though McCranie believes that number is much higher.
In years to come, he said the CPPF will approach foundations, major corporate and private donors, as well as facilitate community fundraisers to generate funding.
As it takes “cold, hard cash” to save a park, she dually underscores Coe’s unique advantage of being located adjacent to Silicon Valley, where there’s benefactors “with lots of money.”
In addition to developing its financial backers and an endowment buffer, McCranie outlines a list of future goals. These include recruiting more youth who want to get involved with Coe’s upkeep, working on trails and maintaining natural springs for animals and people. He would also like to see enhancement and diversification of the volunteer base by attracting people who specialize in interpretive work, history, guided hikes, mountain biking excursions, etc.
“I can’t think our chances are excellent, but good grief, we have to give it a go,” declared Vincent, who, after exploring Coe’s varied topographies for 37 years, said the magic has never worn off. “Everything you put into it, you get back in spades.”
The Coe Park Preservation Fund
– As it awaits official nonprofit status, the CPPF it is classified as subordinate organization of the Pine Ridge Association; a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable agency formed in 1975 to support projects and programs at Henry W. Coe Park.
– The CPPF brings together corporations, foundations and individuals dedicated to preserving Coe. All donors will receive tax-exemption information.
– To stay informed on progress, visit the CPPF’s website at www.coeparkfund.org. An Annual Report will be published and distributed to all donors.
The Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs
– The Historic hot springs resort inside Coe Park will host its first annual Travel Through GYHS History event Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Gilroy Hot Springs. The gathering will feature vintage vehicles, music, tours and food. Bring a picnic, or enjoy picnic fare for sale. Admission is $15; children under age 12 are free. For more information, email in**@fr***********************.org.
– For more information on Full Moon Camp Outs at the hot springs, which entail volunteer work, free time to enjoy the park and soaking in temporary tanks, visit friendsofgilroyhotsprings.org.
