“As the year draws to a close, Californians bring out dog-eared lists of last year’s new year’s resolutions to see what they stuck with and what will roll over, again, into next year’s resolutions. This time-honored ritual makes even the most reluctant among us resolve to scale Mount Everest, bike to work every day, stop fighting with our siblings, organize our houses to the likes of home improvement shows, volunteer 20 hours a week, and a host of other laudable aspirations. As the post-holiday haze of indulgence and regret sets in and unreachable goals fade, though, some simpler, achievable and often more important goals remain down at the bottom of our lists.
On behalf of the California State Parks Foundation, our 97,000 members, and the millions of park users who visit and treasure our state parks, we’re issuing three such simple yet vital New Year’s Resolutions for California’s state park system. We hope the Legislature and Governor will put these on their respective lists. We expect that solving the state’s budget crisis will be number one on every policymaker’s list for 2009. That will be no easy feat, and it’s a much-needed resolution for all of us. However, before the calendar turns, now is the time to look forward to the coming year and name the changes we want to see achieved for a better California. Improving our state parks so that they remain open, accessible and enjoyable will help all of us meet our own personal resolutions – enjoy the outdoors, make fitness a priority, go on affordable family vacations, and more – and will help local economies stay afloat in these difficult times.
Californians need a gift this holiday season, and the gift of a well-funded, accessible and well-protected state park system is one that will keep giving. So to Governor Schwarzenegger and California’s Legislature: Here are three important resolutions we hope you will add to your lists:
Implement the State Park Access Pass
Give Californians a way to make a modest investment in their state park system, and then give them free daily access to their state parks. If Californians paid just $10 on annual vehicle license fees, we’d have enough money to address critical problems in the state park system, and provide free daily access. Paying just $15 would provide those benefits and allow the state to keep $150 million in General Fund revenues for the overall state budget uses. Californians understand our state park system needs help and they want state leaders to address the problem. In fact, an April 2008 poll found that 52 percent of voters believe that California’s state parks do not receive sufficient funds to meet their needs.
Protect Our State Parks
Oppose efforts from developers, utilities, local governments and others that threaten state park lands. State parks are designated to protect natural, cultural and historical resources in the state, and to provide Californians access to unique recreation in the outdoors. Building roads, utility infrastructure, parking lots, commercial developments and more than 100 other projects in or adjacent to state parks is a violation of the public’s trust. State parks exist for all Californians, not for the whims or profits of entities that treat state parks as a path of least resistance.
Visit a State Park
Go out and visit one, or many of the 279 state parks. There is no substitute for experiencing the grandeur of the redwoods, our majestic world famous coastline, the stark beauty of the desert or the other awe-inspiring features of our amazingly diverse state parks.
Elizabeth Goldstein is the president of the California State Park Foundation. With its 95,000 members, the California State Parks Foundation is the only independent nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting, enhancing, promoting and advocating for California’s magnificent state parks. For more information about California’s state parks, visit www.calparks.org.
