LAKE COUNTY ? It”s a grassroots effort that shows undivided support for Lake County”s parks. But gathering signatures is just the first step to try to sway Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger”s January decision to close 48 of the 278 state parks, including Lake County”s only two?Anderson State Historic Park and Clear Lake State Park.
The Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association (CLSPIA) is working with county Chambers of Commerce, the Sierra Club, Lake County Garden Clubs, the Board of Supervisors, Audubon Society, Lake County Computer Users Group, businesses and individuals to protest park closures.
For Leona Butts, Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association Board Member, support can be recruited almost anywhere, including while she waits at the doctor”s office. “People in the waiting room at the doctor”s office went home with petitions. The Doctor and his staff have copies?strangers in restaurants where we had lunch went home with petitions,” Butts said.
While a few people told Butts they were not aware of the proposed closures, all wanted to know more.
“There is no one that I have contacted that has not wanted to sign the petition. I carry petitions with me and simply ask people if they have had an opportunity to sign the petition to keep our two Lake County Parks open,” Butts said.
So far, nearly 1,000 signatures have been gathered in less than a month. And the effort will continue through March.
At a Saturday garage sale fundraiser at the Kelseyville Senior Center to help build a new Education Pavilion?a year-round outdoor facility at Clear Lake State Park?almost $2,000 was raised and signatures were obtained from each person who stopped by.
Even if the parks are closed, plans for an Education Pavilion won”t change, Butts said.
Initially, the grassroots effort started with a plan to swamp the governor”s office with mailed-in petitions, but now CLSPIA will take them to the office personally, possibly during a state capitol trip for the sixth annual Park Advocacy Day in April.
The day will see hundreds of participants advocating for parks and protesting the proposed closures. During the event, participants will meet with policymakers throughout the day. “These meetings make a great impact in legislators” support for key park policies and issues,” Butts said.
Contact Elizabeth Wilson at ewilson@record-bee.com.
