More than 200 people turned out to Fremont Peak on Aug. 22 in an
effort to keep the local site off a list of state parks to be
closed due to budget cuts.
MELISSA FLORES
More than 200 people turned out to Fremont Peak on Aug. 22 in an effort to keep the local site off a list of state parks to be closed due to budget cuts.
Members of the Fremont Peak Observatory Association planned the rally and barbecue as a way to garner support for the park, which offers camping, hiking and a state-of-the-art telescope.
“We had some research scientists describe what they are doing and why this location is very good for what they are doing,” said Doug Brown, the FPOA president. “We had some people from Hartnell talk about the influence on their students.”
The Fremont Peak Observatory Association is doing all they can to raise awareness and money to keep the park off the list of more than 100 state parks slated for closure. The final list will not be available to the public until Labor Day weekend, but according to a park spokesman, all the parks in the Gavilan sector are likely to close. That includes Henry Coe State Park and the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park.
The Association members are especially concerned about Fremont Peak because it is home to the Challenger telescope, with a 30-inch lens. The Peak offers some of the best stargazing conditions for more than 100 miles.
See the full story in the Pinnacle on Friday.
