Unfortunately prop. 21 failed at the ballot on election day. Of the Californians who did vote, the prop went down a whooping 58% against.

It is really a shame when you consider a statistic I read in the SF Chronicle: “Studies have estimated that visitors spend between $2 billion and $4 billion a year on camping gear, food, gas and other goods in communities surrounding state parks. That amounts to about $300 million in tax revenue for the state general fund each year.” This is according to Mike Sweeney of the Nature Conservancy.

Park Use Fees: Case in Point
It seems people don’t want to pay for any services, even the ones they use.

This is what I saw on our last camping trip up to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Instead of people driving into the park and pay the $10 entrance fee, many were parking along the road outside the park and walking in, so they can dodge the fee.

In my opinion that is the problem with our State trying to rely on park use fees. People will always try to dodge them and expect the State to find the money to run the parks somewhere else. It is really infuriating when you see people so short sighted.

But in an economy like we are experiencing, it is not surprising to see prop 21 fail. People are hurting, and our State Parks aren’t the highest priority for most. I just hope our legislators can find enough money to keep most of the parks open so we can continue to enjoy them.

You can help. Please donate to the California State Parks Foundation. I did. And I plan to keep supporting the Foundation’s fight for the Cal State Parks.

This post via the: Family RV Fun blog. Where you can get tips, tricks and valuable info on family RV travel.

Prop 21 Update: My Take

If you are a long time reader of this blog you know that we love to camp at the many great state parks of the great state of California. This November there is a very important proposition to restore some financial security to the state park system.

Please vote yes on Prop. 21 and keep the state park system strong. You can read more about Prop 21 on the State Park Foundation’s. web site.

This post via the: Family RV Fun blog. Where you can get tips, tricks and valuable info on family RV travel.

Vote Yes on Prop. 21 on Nov. 2

Well the last shoe finally dropped on the on-going saga of the California state budget and the Cal State Park system. The “Service Reduction Plan” was released on Tuesday. The Service Reductions are one part of the $14.2 million, one-time budget savings plan Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced on September 25 to keep parks open with the least disruption to visitors.

One of the majestic redwood at Big Basin State Park

It didn’t turn out to be as drastic as we all feared, but the cuts were still pretty deep and wide spread. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and one of my favorite State Parks, Big Basin will see campground closures Sunday through Thursday from December through March. Well I guess I can live with that given how much that the State needs to make-up in the budget deficit. I’m just concerned that these cuts will become permanent. Let’s all hope for a better economy and more tax revenue for the state.

You can read about the details of the park reductions at the Cal State Park Foundation website

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Cal State Parks – Closure Details Finally Released

Watch this impassioned speech by the President of the Cal State Park Foundation, Elizabeth Goldstein.

She lays down the law on what we need to do to save our parks.

The closure list has been delayed until late next week.

Make a donation to the Cal State Park Foundation fight to stop the park closures.

This post via the: Family RV Fun blog. Where you can get tips, tricks and valuable info on family RV travel.

Cal State Park Foundation President Speaks

Cal state parks are still at risk, but there is some good news.

Senate Bill 679 passed the Ca State legislature and waits for the Gov. to sign. It requires that no land acquired for the state park system may be used for non-park uses without the express authority of an act of the Legislature and without a plan to replace those park lands with lands of equal environmental and fair market value.

Let’s hope the state gets creative and works with private business to keep the parks open.

But senate bill 679 insures the state won’t lose State park land.

This post via the: Family RV Fun blog. Where you can get tips, tricks and valuable info on family RV travel.

Cal State Parks Still in Way of Govenor’s Cut