Half Moon Bay - 11th hour effort to save 50 of 70 CA state parks from closure 7/1/12

 
"Half Moon Bay Review/Clay Lambert, 5/8/12.  "Legislators have plan to keep state parks open."

Gray Whale Cove State Beach

"Two local parks – Gray Whale Cove State Beach and Portola Redwoods State Park – are on the list of parks expected to close.

....The legislators say they have found $41 million that could be diverted to state parks from a patchwork of existing funds. The money would add to help being provided from private organizations. That includes $10 million in long-term loans from the state’s Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund, $10 million from a motor vehicle fund and $21 million in local assistance funding that is currently planned for use elsewhere.

....The planned closure of the parks has been controversial from the outset. Critics say that there is no way to close open space and that closed parks will still be magnets for visitors and even criminal activity. In addition, the parks are popular draws for tourists in areas like the Coastside that depend on tourist dollars."  Read Article.

Posted by Kathy Meeh