Community Corner

Parks' Closure Gets Pushback From Lake Elsinore, Wildomar

The Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Wildomar Chamber of Commerce joined the cause to keep parks open, and Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries (R-Lake Elsinore) has co-authored legislation designed to fund the parks.

Chambers of commerce representing businesses throughout Riverside County Thursday joined other organizations across the state in urging Gov. Jerry Brown not to go forward with plans to shut down 61 parks as part of a strategy to pare down the state's $16 billion deficit.

The Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce, Wildomar Chamber of Commerce, Murrieta Chamber of Commerce, Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Palm Springs Desert Resort Communities Convention and Visitors Authority were among 18 groups that appealed to the governor to back off the closure plan, which was formulated during last year's budget cycle.

"State parks provide a clear economic benefit. That is why so many chambers of commerce and business groups are coming to their defense," said Elizabeth Goldstein, president of the California State Parks Foundation. "We understand that the governor is cutting many line items in the budget, but the cuts to our state parks are counterproductive to the overall economy and to the more than 100-year commitment to preserving these priceless public assets.

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"In the face of closures, many communities are putting new, creative ideas forward to give their parks a reprieve -- some that will last 12 months, some that will last a little longer. That creativity and innovation will continue, but can never substitute for a serious, sustainable funding commitment to our state parks."

The governor's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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Beginning July 1, the California Department of Parks and Recreation intends to padlock 70 state-run recreational grounds and museums. Private sponsors have agreed to assist in operating mine of the facilities, however, to keep them open for the duration of the year, according to the agency. The remaining facilities would be closed, netting around $22 million in savings to the state.

"We regret closing any park," Ruth Coleman, director of California State Parks, said earlier this year. "But with the proposed budget reductions over the two-year period, we can no longer afford to operate all parks within the system."

According to the "Closing Parks Is Bad for Business Campaign," state parks generate more than $6 billion in economic activity, with more than 65 million visits to parks made annually and visitors spending an average $42 on items connected with their visit.

On Monday, Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries (R-Lake Elsinore) co-hosted a "Save our Parks" press conference in Sacramento in support of AB 1589, which he has joint authored. The legislation jointly authored by Democrats and Republicans is designed to help rescue California state parks from financial paralysis and prevent park closures.

Monday’s news conference also featured the great-great grandson of John Muir, who was on hand to promote the legislation and talk about the importance of state parks to California.

AB 1589 proposes both long and short-term strategies for keeping open many of the state parks slated for closure as a result of funding reductions to the Department of Parks and Recreation, according to Jeffries.

"This proposal is an important and logical next-step in creating a steady funding source for California's state parks that is less reliant on unpredictable state revenue," Jeffries said. "Particularly in my own district, I'm proud that through community support, we are on the verge of keeping Palomar Mountain State Park off the closure list.  With this bill, we'll hopefully pave a path to keep other parks across California open as well."

"I am thrilled to see my colleagues in the Assembly engaging in bipartisan problem-solving to preserve the state parks within my district and the rest of the state," said co-author Assemblymember Kristin Olsen, R-Modesto. "...Parks are vital to the economies of the local communities they serve and closures would be a blow to their already fragile state." --City News Service and Toni McAllister contributed to this report.


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