Can Nonprofits Save the State Parks from Closure?

A new bill authored by Assemblyman Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, could pave the way to keep open California's 70 state parks threatened with closure, including .

State lawmakers unanimously passed AB42 Wednesday — a bill that would allow nonprofits to enter into agreements to run state parks — and now it's on the way to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk for approval, the Associated Press has reported.

"Opponents say it takes valuable resources out of the state's hands while failing to protect state jobs," the article stated. While "supporters say the bill can help minimize the number of parks that will have to close after the Legislature cut $33 million to the parks budget in March."

“I have been fighting and will continue to fight to keep our state parks open," Huffman said in a news release. "AB 42 is a creative solution that will allow the state to secure partnerships that will enable some of the state parks on the closure list to stay open.

“It is not a panacea for all of the parks at risk, but it will certainly help," he added. "Particularly in these tough economic times, creative public/private partnerships are an essential tool in providing ongoing protection of, and continued access to, these treasured public assets.”

“Nonprofit organizations have been supporting the state park system throughout its more than 100 year history, and AB 42 provides another venue for that critical support,” said Traci Verardo-Torres, Vice President of Government Affairs for the California State Parks Foundation, the organizational sponsor of the bill. “Across the state, park advocates and concerned Californians are coming together to identify creative, collaborative solutions to keep our parks protected and open for public access. Allowing nonprofits to help keep state parks open will help parks that would otherwise close, and will engage Californians in safeguarding the resources that belong to all of us.”

This legislation will make it easier for a partnership, like t, to form.

The bill outlines some stark realities for the state's park system, which are currently run by the Department of Parks and Recreation.

• The California state park system is a unique resource that requires preservation and protection for future generations.  

• California's state park system is the largest in the nation and contains over 1.5 million acres of land managed for natural, cultural and historical values in 278 parks across the state.

• Parks host more than 80 million visitors annually and houses over 3,100 historic buildings and more than 14,000 individual and group campsites. 

• They're a major draw for tourism in the state and generate over $4 billion annually in economic activity in communities near state parks and in park-related expenditures. 

• The budget for the state park system has not kept pace with the state's population growth and growing demand. The annual budget for state parks has been significantly below the amount necessary to maintain the parks in their current condition. The ongoing shortfall has caused a burgeoning backlog of deferred maintenance of over $1.3 billion in 2010, inadequate staff to protect park resources and maintain public access and safety, and partial closures of many state parks. 

• Current budget resources will force the closure of state parks throughout the system and create impediments to public access and enjoyment of those parks. 

• Californians deserve a world-class state park system that will preserve and protect the unique resources of the state for future generations. In order to safeguard those resources and maintain public access, California's state park system must have stable, reliable, adequate funding sources to fully fund and support our state parks. 

• As the search for stable funding sources continues in this current budget crisis, it is critical that all efforts be made to continue public access to state parks and to keep our parks open. Nonprofit organizations can be important partners in meeting those objectives, and where possible, they should be invited to assist the state with operating parks in order to keep them open.

Do you think this will help save the state parks?