Governor’s reversal of planned closures might still mean
cutbacks in days, services
Last week’s announcement that state parks have been given a
reprieve from closure through at least the end of the fiscal year
is a good news-bad news scenario for local advocates.
a chance that the closure idea could be revisited next
summer.
Governor’s reversal of planned closures might still mean cutbacks in days, services
Last week’s announcement that state parks have been given a reprieve from closure through at least the end of the fiscal year is a good news-bad news scenario for local advocates.
a chance that the closure idea could be revisited next summer.
Last Friday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that instead of closing more than 100 parks as expected, the state would reduce routine maintenance at more than 200 facilities and not purchase new vehicles or equipment; an estimated savings of $12.1 million. Furthermore, $2.1 million will be saved by reducing staffing as well as limiting hours or days of operation for some parks.
“It’s a conflict for us,” said Gavilan Sector Superintendent Eddie Guaracha, who oversees Fremont Peak and the historic park. “On one hand, you’re happy that the parks are staying open, but you’re still concerned about the maintenance of the historic buildings.
“It does give us reason for hope that we’re still open and, hopefully, something will be worked out so that becomes permanent.”
Guaracha said maintenance and seasonal staff budgets already have been cut at local parks, meaning full-time park employees have added more chores to their daily routine.
Up the hill at Fremont Peak, schedule and maintenance reductions are expected as well, though specifics have yet to be announced.
“While there is still uncertainty, we are waiting eagerly to hear what the implications are to be for Fremont Peak,” said Doug Brown, president of the peak’s observatory association. “Our hope is that the park will continue to operate on weekends so we can continue providing service to astronomers.”
Brown said the association has held meetings and lobbied on behalf of keeping state parks open.
“We were preparing for the worst and trying to work toward the best,” he said, noting his group held a “save-the-park” rally for which a number of community leaders and members of the public turned out.
“We also had representation at a legislative hearing held in San Francisco last week,” he said. “My impression is, statewide, there have been so many people voicing their thoughts on the impact of closing the parks that people in Sacramento had to listen.”
He said the effort to spare parks from closure has been a reminder to advocates to let their views be known.
“They’ve realized that they need to express their support and appreciation for parks,” Brown said. “By expressing those views, they can make a difference. The process is working, in that sense, the way it should. I think it has raised people’s awareness that they need to maintain the visibility and connections going forward so people making decisions in Sacramento will have all the information they need.”
Guaracha said earlier this week that particulars of local park cutbacks in terms of days or hours of service should be announced within a couple of weeks.
“Days of operation are really the only thing left to cut” at the historic park, he said. “We’ll just have to see if there are other options for next year. Hopefully, the economy turns and our California budget is a lot better next year.”
Last Friday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that instead of closing more than 100 parks as expected, the state would reduce routine maintenance at more than 200 facilities and not purchase new vehicles or equipment; an estimated savings of $12.1 million. Furthermore, $2.1 million will be saved by reducing staffing as well as limiting hours or days of operation for some parks.
“It’s a conflict for us,” said Gavilan Sector Superintendent Eddie Guaracha, who oversees Fremont Peak and the historic park. “On one hand, you’re happy that the parks are staying open, but you’re still concerned about the maintenance of the historic buildings.
“It does give us reason for hope that we’re still open and, hopefully, something will be worked out so that becomes permanent.”
Guaracha said maintenance and seasonal staff budgets already have been cut at local parks, meaning full-time park employees have added more chores to their daily routine.
Up the hill at Fremont Peak, schedule and maintenance reductions are expected as well, though specifics have yet to be announced.
“While there is still uncertainty, we are waiting eagerly to hear what the implications are to be for Fremont Peak,” said Doug Brown, president of the peak’s observatory association. “Our hope is that the park will continue to operate on weekends so we can continue providing service to astronomers.”
Brown said the association has held meetings and lobbied on behalf of keeping state parks open.
“We were preparing for the worst and trying to work toward the best,” he said, noting his group held a “save-the-park” rally for which a number of community leaders and members of the public turned out.
“We also had representation at a legislative hearing held in San Francisco last week,” he said. “My impression is, statewide, there have been so many people voicing their thoughts on the impact of closing the parks that people in Sacramento had to listen.”
He said the effort to spare parks from closure has been a reminder to advocates to let their views be known.
“They’ve realized that they need to express their support and appreciation for parks,” Brown said. “By expressing those views, they can make a difference. The process is working, in that sense, the way it should. I think it has raised people’s awareness that they need to maintain the visibility and connections going forward so people making decisions in Sacramento will have all the information they need.”
Guaracha said earlier this week that particulars of local park cutbacks in terms of days or hours of service should be announced within a couple of weeks.
“Days of operation are really the only thing left to cut” at the historic park, he said. “We’ll just have to see if there are other options for next year. Hopefully, the economy turns and our California budget is a lot better next year.”
The good news is that the San Juan Bautista Historic Park and Fremont Peak will remain open at least through June, a reversal of rumored plans to immediately shutter one or both of the San Benito County venues to save money. The bad news is that the state is facing a continuing fiscal crisis next year, so there’sa chance that the closure idea could be revisited next summer.
Last Friday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that instead of closing more than 100 parks as expected, the state would reduce routine maintenance at more than 200 facilities and not purchase new vehicles or equipment; an estimated savings of $12.1 million. Furthermore, $2.1 million will be saved by reducing staffing as well as limiting hours or days of operation for some parks.
“It’s a conflict for us,” said Gavilan Sector Superintendent Eddie Guaracha, who oversees Fremont Peak and the historic park. “On one hand, you’re happy that the parks are staying open, but you’re still concerned about the maintenance of the historic buildings.
“It does give us reason for hope that we’re still open and, hopefully, something will be worked out so that becomes permanent.”
Guaracha said maintenance and seasonal staff budgets already have been cut at local parks, meaning full-time park employees have added more chores to their daily routine.
Up the hill at Fremont Peak, schedule and maintenance reductions are expected as well, though specifics have yet to be announced.
“While there is still uncertainty, we are waiting eagerly to hear what the implications are to be for Fremont Peak,” said Doug Brown, president of the peak’s observatory association. “Our hope is that the park will continue to operate on weekends so we can continue providing service to astronomers.”
Brown said the association has held meetings and lobbied on behalf of keeping state parks open.
“We were preparing for the worst and trying to work toward the best,” he said, noting his group held a “save-the-park” rally for which a number of community leaders and members of the public turned out.
“We also had representation at a legislative hearing held in San Francisco last week,” he said. “My impression is, statewide, there have been so many people voicing their thoughts on the impact of closing the parks that people in Sacramento had to listen.”
He said the effort to spare parks from closure has been a reminder to advocates to let their views be known.
“They’ve realized that they need to express their support and appreciation for parks,” Brown said. “By expressing those views, they can make a difference. The process is working, in that sense, the way it should. I think it has raised people’s awareness that they need to maintain the visibility and connections going forward so people making decisions in Sacramento will have all the information they need.”
Guaracha said earlier this week that particulars of local park cutbacks in terms of days or hours of service should be announced within a couple of weeks.
“Days of operation are really the only thing left to cut” at the historic park, he said. “We’ll just have to see if there are other options for next year. Hopefully, the economy turns and our California budget is a lot better next year.”
