Park Closure List

May 13, 2011

California State Parks today announced a plan to close up to 70 of its 278 parks due to budget cuts. The closures are necessary to achieve an $11 million reduction in the next fiscal year 2011/12, that amount increasing to $22 million in the following fiscal year 2012/13.

"We regret closing any park", said Ruth Coleman, director of California State Parks, "but with the proposed budget reductions over the next two years, we can no longer afford to operate all parks within the system."

"These cuts are unfortunate, but the state's current budget crisis demands that tough decisions be made," said Resources Secretary John Laird. "Hopefully, the legislature will agree to allow California voters to decide whether we extend currently existing taxes or make deeper cuts to our parks."

State Parks had three primary goals for developing the closure methodology: (1) protect the most significant natural and cultural resources, (2) maintain public access and revenue generation to the greatest extent possible and (3) protect closed parks so that they remain attractive and usable for potential partners. The methodology was included in the budget bill approved by the legislature and the governor in March.

Despite the large number of parks identified for closure, at least 92% of today's attendance will be retained, 94% of existing revenues will be preserved, and 208 parks will remain open. State Parks believes the methodology developed preserves and protects parks critical to the mission, which provide for the diversity of experiences wanted by visitors across the state. For instance, State Parks has a variety of state historic parks, state beaches, state recreation areas, state nature reserves and state parks and most of the parks in all categories will remain open to serve the diverse preferences of park visitors.

"With this announcement, we can begin to seek additional partnership agreements to keep open as many parks as possible," added Coleman. "We already have 32 operating agreements with our partners - cities, counties and non-profits - to operate state parks, and will be working statewide to expand that successful template."

Notes On Closures

State Parks anticipates full park closures related to the proposed budget reductions will occur by July 2012. The parks on the closure list are expected to be open this summer and reservations for this summer will be honored.

Park Closure Methodology
  • Statewide Significance: The statewide significance of the parks based on the department's established lists of Outstanding and Representative Parks as well as the California State History Plan and the California State Parks Survey of 1928 (authored by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr.).

  • Visitation: In order to protect public access.

  • Fiscal Strength: Estimated net savings from closure for each unit.

  • Ability to Physically Close: Some units are easily closed to public access while others cannot be physically closed.

  • Existing Partnerships: Units with substantial concession operations and/or nonprofit support.

  • Infrastructure: Some units suffer from unstable infrastructure (primarily water and wastewater treatment facilities). Recent or proposed Capital Outlay investments were also considered.

  • Land Use Restrictions: Known deed restrictions and grant requirements. Parks will continue to work with the National Park Service to protect access to our Land and Water Conservation Fund parks.

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