Fremont Peak State Park will open seven days a week once again
because officials say it is costing more to deal with trespassing
and vandalism than keep the San Juan Bautista-area attraction
closed.
Fremont Peak State Park will open seven days a week once again because officials say it is costing more to deal with trespassing and vandalism than keep the San Juan Bautista-area attraction closed.
Gavilan Sector Parks Superintendent Eddie Guaracha this week announced Fremont Peak will reopen seven days a week starting Wednesday.
In light of the state’s budget woes, the San Benito County park’s days of operation had been reduced – so it has been closed to the public Monday through Wednesday. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in September 2009 ordered a more than $14 million reduction in the state parks budget instead of closing as many as 100 parks, which he had proposed earlier to help balance the state’s budget.
Guaracha attributed the decision to open the park on those days to increased trespassing and vandalism, such as spray painting and breaking property, in the past two months.
“We’re reacting to the damage that has been occurring,” said Guaracha, who did not readily have figures on additional costs caused by the vandals, or estimated savings for reopening on those days.
He noted how the goal of reduced days had been to cut down on the staff load.
“With this occurring,” he said, “it requires us to go over there more often.”
The other state park locally affected by the cutback was the San Juan Bautista State Historic Park.
The historic park, which includes the Plaza Hotel, Castro-Breen Adobe and other historic buildings in San Juan, will continue the Monday closure implemented a year ago, Guaracha said.
