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Budget Cuts to Close 48 Parks
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger released a budget for Fiscal Year 2008-09 that included a proposal to reduce $13.1 million General Fund support for the state park system, which would have closed 48 state parks and reduced lifeguard staffing at 16 state beaches. To view CSPF’s press release, go to here. -
A New Campaign is Launched
CSPF kicks off the Save Our State Parks Campaign, which is a statewide, grassroots effort to keep California’s magnificent state parks open and available. In partnership with organizations, businesses, local governments, and individuals around the state, CSPF leads the Save Our State Parks Campaign activities and generating awareness and action about threats of park closures, service reductions and unacceptable budget proposals. -
48 Parks Kept from Closing
In the May Revise, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger reversed his original proposal to close 48 state parks and reduce lifeguard staffing on 16 state beaches. -
Park Funding Eliminated
Gov. Schwarzenegger announced a series of additional cuts to the February-enacted Fiscal Year 2009-10 state budget that included the elimination of General Fund support for state parks. View CSPF's press release. -
220 Parks Proposed to Close
220 state parks were proposed to be closed – almost 80% of the entire state park system. The closure list was in response to the proposal to elimination of General Fund allocation. View CSPF's press release. -
$62 Million Backfill
The California State Legislature passed a Fiscal Year 2009-10 budget that included a $70 million General Fund reduction for state parks, but provided a one year $62 million backfill, leaving an $8 million shortfall. View CSPF's press release. -
$14.2 Million Cut to Parks
Gov. Schwarzenegger used his blue-pencil veto authority and exacted an additional $6.2 million cut to the state park system, bringing the total General Fund cut to $14.2 million for Fiscal Year 2009-10. The total budget reduction for state parks – including the General Fund reduction, the financial impact of the furloughs, lost revenue and other reductions – became $38.6 million. It was referenced in the governor’s budget summary that over 100 state parks will be closed. View press release. -
2010-2011 Fiscal Budget
Gov. Schwarzenegger released his Fiscal Year 2010-11 State Budget. The budget zeroed out all General Fund funding for state parks, but “restores” the funding by assuming that an offshore oil lease in the Santa Barbara area will be approved and will provide $140 million to state parks. The drilling proposal was defeated twice in 2009 – once at the State Lands Commission then again in the legislative budget process. View CSPF's press release. -
Schwarzenegger withdrew his proposal
Gov. Schwarzenegger withdrew his proposal to fund state parks from Tranquillion Ridge project and proposed to fund state parks at Fiscal Year 2008-09 level and allocated $140 million from the General Fund. View CSPF's press release. -
$7 Million shortfall
A full 100 days after the Fiscal Year began, the California State Legislature adopted a budget, which was eventually signed by the governor that included only $133 million from the General Fund for state parks, leaving $7 million shortfall, forcing midyear service and hour reductions felt throughout the entire state park system. View CSPF's press release. -
Proposition 21
Proposition 21, California State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010 ballot measure to ensure long-term and sustainable funding source for state parks, fails to gain enough support for passage. View CSPF's press release. -
$22 Million Budget Cut to Parks
Gov. Brown announced his FY 2011-2012 budget proposal that required the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to reduce its general fund by $22 million dollars by July 1, 2012. The General Fund budget cuts were $11 million in FY 2011-12 and $11 million by FY 2012-13. CSPF voiced objections to the budget, saying it was penny wise and pound foolish. -
Budget Cuts to State Parks
Gov. Brown signed the FY 2011-2012 budget that included $22 million reduction of General Fund support for DPR, necessitating permanent park closures slated for July 1, 2012. -
70 Parks to Close
DPR released a list of 70 state parks it would close by July 1, 2012. This closure list was based on the $22 million cut to State Parks in the FY 11-12 budget framework that was adopted by the Legislature in late March and included in the trailer bills signed by the governor on March 24. View CSPF’s press release. Click to go to The Magnificent 70 tribute site. -
AB 42 Passes Legislature
The Legislature passed Assembly Bill (AB) 42 (Huffman), the bill sponsored by CSPF, to help keep California’s state parks open. AB 42 provided immediate authority to DPR to enter into operating agreements with qualified nonprofit organizations to operate part or all of a state park unit. This allowed partners to step in to keep particular parks on the closure list open. View CSPF's press release. -
Gov. Brown Signs AB 42
Gov. Brown signed Assembly Bill 42 to help keep California’s state parks open -
FY 2012-2013 Budget Announced
Gov. Brown released the FY 2012-2013 State Budget that finalized the $22 million General Fund cut to DPR. Equally serious, the budget also proposed the elimination of all seasonal lifeguards and 20 percent of ranger positions in California state parks if the governor’s November 2012 ballot initiative for new revenue isn’t successful. -
Defend What's Yours
CSPF launches a series of Public Service Announcements and a public awareness campaign “Defend What’s Yours” to inform Californians about park closures. Take the Challenge -
13 Grants Awarded
CSPF awarded 13 grants totaling $328,586 to organizations fighting to keep state parks off the closure list in response to the crisis of park closures across California's state park system. These grants were made possible by generous funding from the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation and the Thomas J. Long Foundation. View CSPF's press release. -
Budget Signed by Brown
Governor Brown signed the new FY 2012-13 Budget. Although it did not rescind park closures, the budget did preserve some additional funding that had been proposed by the Legislature. The money helped DPR relieve some of the strain on the state parks system and created an opportunity to finalize agreements to keep more of the 70 parks open. -
Governor Signs State Budget
Governor Brown signed the FY 2012-13 State Budget, which preserved some additional funding that had been passed by the Legislature. Brown approved redirecting $13M from existing unspent Prop 84 funds that can be only used for capital projects intended to generate new revenue, or to help improve fee collection. As well as approved $3 million from the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Fund and $7 million from the Motor Vehicle Fuel Account that can be used for park operations. -
Park Closures Pushed Back
The original deadline for park closures came and went without closing parks because of last-minute funding and partnership agreements put in place. -
$20.3 Million Found at DPR
An investigative report by The Sacramento Bee revealed that DPR had been hiding approximately $50 million in “surplus” funds for the past 12 years. The governor put out a press release indicating that he would work with the Legislature to allocate the $20.3 million as leverage for the funds that have been raised to keep parks open. -
CSPF Letter
CSPF delivered a letter to Gov. Jerry Brown, President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, and Speaker of the Assembly John A. Pérez urging them to take swift action to achieve resolution on the irregularities being reported from the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). CSPF offered a four-point framework for near-term proceedings and legislegislative action. View CSPF's letter. -
Money Returned to Parks
CSPF lobbied the Legislature to allocate the $20.3 million in funding from the State Parks and Recreation Fund (SPRF) for use in state parks. -
Parks Bills Signed
Gov. Jerry Brown signed two bills into law, Assembly Bill (AB) 1478 (Blumenfield) and AB 1589 (Huffman). AB 1478 appropriates the $20.5 million in State Park and Recreation Fund to DPR to keep parks open that had previously been slated for closure. AB 1589, which requires DPR to develop a new action plan for increasing revenues in state parks, allows purchase of annual park passes on annual tax returns, and encourages an independent assessment of California’s state parks. -
New Director of DPR
Gov. Brown appointed a new permanent director of the California Department of Parks and Recreation: retired U.S. Marine Major General Anthony L. Jackson. Major General Jackson's last assignment prior to his retirement was Commanding General, Marine Corps Installations West, Camp Pendleton, California. -
A Report to Improve Parks
The Little Hoover Commission released a report, “Beyond Crisis: Recapturing Excellence in California's State Park System,” with recommendations for the future direction of the California state parks system. See more about the report here. -
CSPF Awards Grants to Park Organizations
CSPF awarded 16 grants totaling $320,000 to several organizations that are working to support underfunded state parks in California. These Park Partnership Grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations that have entered into agreements with the DPR to either operate or support operations of a particular state park. These grants are made possible by funding from the Thomas J. Long Foundation and an anonymous gift to CSPF.
