Tourism Funding for California State Parks
Cutbacks Inspire Creative Programs Financed by Park Travel
The irony seems too good to be true: the motor vehicle, which for years has been blamed for the smoggy degradation of California's public lands, coastlines and forests, may eventually serve as the impetus for creative programs that could increase funding and inspire more travel to California State Parks.
California State Funding Crisis and Park Visitors
"We are working on long-term strategies," said California State Parks Foundation Communications Director Jerry Emory. California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) is a 100,000-member strong organization dedicated to the preservation of California park lands, and was critical when the state funding crisis threatened to close parks earlier this year.
"Our members were outraged," said Emory, who added that the budget cuts proposed last spring would have resulted in the closure of as many as a third of California’s state parks. "State parks act as economic generators. For every $1 spent, $2.35 is generated by people coming to the parks. It didn't make sense to us."
Increased Travel to State Parks
Actually, new studies commissioned by the California Parks and Recreation Department at California State University, Sacramento place the ratio even higher. An average of $44.32 billion is spent by visitors to California State Parks (State Parks) each year, either in lodging, food or purchases associated with their visit. Some of that money is spent in the parks themselves; other revenue benefits nearby cities and towns. State Parks is the second largest park system in the country (second only to the national park system), and receives an average of 74 million visitors a year.
Emory said that funding concerns has led to a number of creative options, including its Proud Partner Program, which encourages collaboration between State Parks and private companies and organizations and provides incentives for travelers to visit state parks.
Proud Partnership Program and Bond Measure
"It (offers) potential funding from a whole suite of sources," said Emory. The California-based dairy producer Knudsen, for example, contributes a portion of the sales from its sour cream and cottage cheese to support state parks. Coca Cola and Stater Brothers have been accepting donations for reforestation after California's recent fires. State Parks so far has partnerships with six different organizations, including Travelocity and the Oakland Raiders.
But it is the upcoming bond measure that has provided some hope for increased funding. CSPF is currently working on a measure that would permit California residents to contribute a donation to the state parks when they register their cars. In return, said Emory, the license holder would get into the parks free.
"The funding would go to cover trail, septic and general maintenance."
Budget Cut of 14.2 Million from State Parks
California State Parks Deputy Director of Communications Roy Stearns said he could not comment on the program, but did acknowledge that the current cutbacks will directly affect maintenance and services in many of California's 278 park units.
The $14.2 million budget cut that was announced September 25, and was essentially a compromise in place of the earlier proposed cuts, will force an immediate freeze on state park maintenance spending.
"It means that what we are doing right now would end all maintenance," said Stearns. "We have brought it to a screeching halt."
The cuts would also reduce personnel and services in many of its parks.
"Each superintendent across the state has submitted plans for how (he) will meet service reductions." In some parks the reductions have resulted in weekday closures of camping facilities and amenities; in others, shorter hours. The cuts could have a direct impact on public travel to State Parks during the 2009-2010 winter and spring seasons.
Travel to California State Parks
Emory said that it is too early to tell whether Californians will be willing to consider a bond measure to fund needed services, or what other funding options may be possible. He stressed that even though CSPF has been critical of Sacramento's budget reductions for state parks, the organization is still doing its part to encourage park visitation.
"Even with our most dire message, we are always reminding people that the best way to support state parks is to get back out and visit them," said Emory.
Stearns said that State Parks is open to discussing other funding options and is hoping further cuts will not be required next year.
“We are open to working with the administration (in Sacramento) to explore solutions.” He noted that Governor Schwartzenegger has been vocal in his support for California state parks and that he is open to finding ways to avoid any closures.
Stearns added that the reduced budget cuts of September 25 are evidence of the governor’s commitment to finding a long-term solution to the California State Parks’s funding problems, and that the reduced cuts wouldn’t have occurred with out Governor Schwartzenegger’s efforts.
“We feel he should get the credit for this,” said Stearns.
Sources:
- Emory, Jerry, Phone interview, 13 October 2009
- Stearns, Roy, Phone interview, 22 October 2009
- Sac State survey finds visitors to California's state parks spend billions annually. Press Release. California State University, 8 June 2009
- calparks.org
- parks.ca.gov
- Photographs of Jerry Emory is a digital reproduction from the archives of California StateParks Foundation
- Photograph of Roy Stearns is a digital reproduction from the archives of California State Parks
AIC101
Standing Among Giants in a California State Park
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Jerry Emory, Dir. Communications, CSPF
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Roy Stearns, Dep. Dir. Communications, CSP
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