LAKE COUNTY — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger”s May budget revise got rid of his January budget proposal to close 48 of the 278 state parks across the state to save money ? including Lake County”s only two state parks ? Clear Lake State Park (CLSP) and Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.
A grassroots response began the day after the announcement when Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association (CLSPIA) members leapt to attention along with the Sierra Club Lake Group, Chambers of Commerce and area citizens. They gathered about 6,000 signatures that were taken to the governor”s office, where the response was noted, governor”s office spokeswoman Lisa Page said.
“We make note of correspondence we receive, he”s also traveled up and down the state to hear directly from the people as well,” Page said.
Lake County was among just a handful of counties that risked losing all of its state parks. Mariposa County would have lost its only park; Solano County would have lost both its parks and Tehama County”s two parks were also on the chopping block.
Other counties, such as Los Angeles and Mendocino, have a long list of more than 20 state parks, while some counties have none.
Leona Butts, director of CLSPIA, said she was pleased to hear not just Lake County”s parks, but all the state”s parks would be kept open under the new budget proposal.
“They are very much a part of our educational system and recreational system. They”re so needed at a time when gas prices are going out of sight and people are staying close to hope. People who can”t afford to go to Disneyland can go to our parks,” Butts said.
She said the parks mean a lot to Lake County”s tourism-charged economy.
“With less than a 65,000 population (the county”s 2007 U.S. Census population count was 64,664) we definitely need all of our visitors to come and enjoy what we have here,” Butts said.
She said each week, she still receives more petitions to save Lake County”s parks. Although the official drive for petitions has ended, Butts will still send straggling petitions that appear in her mail box to the governor”s office.
“We need to keep telling those people (budget committee members) that there are other ways to straighten out the budget ? stop the perks, the salary increases ? there are many, many ways to handle this. Plus, we need to stand up and fight for our education system, because there are still critical issues facing us,” Butts said.
Plans for upgrades at both of Lake County”s parks continue to move forward, including fundraising for an outdoor education pavilion at CLSP, and Butts said rangers and other supporters have a new-found energy after learning the parks would stay open.
“Everyone is excited to think they still have the opportunity to do all of these great things.”
She said a group of 6th graders recently visited CLSP from Ukiah ? 23 students, a teacher and chaperones. They spent two nights and toured the wetlands area, visitors center, trails and Pomo Indian display. They are just part of the more than 1,000 school children who visit Lake County”s parks each year.
“This is the type of thing the park is supposed to be doing, and we would have been cut off from that if it had been closed,” Butts said.
Contact Elizabeth Wilson at ewilson@record-bee.com
