Nature Friendly: November vote could keep parks open

“Chronic underfunding is slowly starving California state parks.”
As I read those words, I almost felt a chill come over me. Jeannie Kegebein, executive director of Mountain Parks Foundation, had just handed me the flier promoting Proposition 21 and a parks s’mores party.
Twice in the past two years, state parks have been on the brink of shutting down, and more cuts are expected if Proposition 21 does not pass. If California voters say yes, they will get free admission in exchange for a new $18 annual fee on vehicles, less than the cost of visiting a state park twice in a year.
About 80 million people visit California’s 278 state parks annually, spending an average of $57.63 in surrounding park communities per visit. Santa Cruz County attracts 7.5 million people, making tourism one of our top two industries.
“California’s state parks attract millions of tourists each year, and those visitors help the bottom line of nearby motels, restaurants and other businesses,” wrote the Fresno Bee. “Every dollar invested in parks flows back to us in healthier lifestyles, business retention, sales tax revenues and a cleaner environment.”
Northern California has been blessed with many state parks. However, Southern California has fewer parks and less interest in passing Proposition 21, another tribal difference between the two regions.
Since a million more people live in the Los Angeles area than in all of Northern California, Kegebein said, “People need to contact everyone they know to get the vote out in support of Prop. 21.”
“Proposition 21 is the only proposition where you get something for your money — free entrance, events and programs.”
If the measure does not pass, parks will continue to get less funding each year, meaning closed bathrooms, less staffing and more parks closing.
“It would take a billion dollars to get our infrastructure back to what it used to be,” said Carl Tallman, Mountain Sector state parks supervisor. “There’s no money for maintaining roads or building water lines. All we can do is make health and safety our priorities.”
Park funding has an impact on more than keeping the parks open.
“Wardens have seen firsthand the impact reduced budgets are having on the management of state lands and parks,” said Jerry Karnow, president of the California Fish and Game Wardens’ Association. “Reductions in public safety funds have already caused crime to more than double in state parks, and poaching is on the rise.”
Mountain Parks Foundation funds the nature education and enrichment activities offered at Henry Cowell Redwoods and Big Basin state parks. Those programs serve more than 1.5 million park visitors, including more than 200 student classes that participate in on-site curriculum-based education.
“Next to schools, we are the second largest group of educators in the state,” Kegebein said.
The two most popular questions visitors ask are, “Where’s the restroom?” and “What’s there to do here?”
“If we’re not here to show them and help them see what’s here to enjoy, it’s hard to break them off their iPods,” she said.
One of the goals at Cowell is to get back to a full-time interpreter and assistant interpreter whose duties include organizing docents, too. A lack of docents means the closing of the Nature Center and fewer guided walks.
“The visitor loses,” Kegebein said.
Daniel Williford is the only interpreter at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. He is classified as “permanent intermittent” and now is furloughed, too. Williford is only allowed to work 22 hours a week. Due to a lack of funding, he and other interpreters must find outside jobs to supplement their income.
“It would be great to have programs year around and not just in the summer,” he said. “School groups now are mostly self-guiding. My phone rings all day with Boy Scouts, school groups and tourists wanting guided walks. I try to scramble to rearrange my schedule.”
As we finished our phone conversation, Williford said goodbye with, “I’ll see you in the park.”
Carol Carson is an environmental educator and nature writer. She has been a docent at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and taught courses on Big Basin State Park for UCSC Extension. You may contact her at ca****@ca*********.com.
At a glance:
What: Mountain Parks Proposition 21 support night
When: 6:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23
Where: Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Nature Store, Hwy 9, Felton,
Details: Folks are invited to enjoy fire pits, s’mores, live music and docent-led walks in the Redwood Grove to show support for Proposition 21. The Halloween Train will be running in the Nature Store.
Info: 335-0782