Calif. may close parks amid budget crisis

SAN FRANCISCO, May 29 (UPI) -- A California State Parks Foundation official says a proposal to reduce the state's budget deficit could result in numerous state parks closing down.

Foundation President Elizabeth Goldstein said if California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposal to cut general funding to the state's 279 parks is approved, as many as 223 California parks would no longer be accessible to state residents and visitors, The San Francisco Chronicle reported Thursday.

"That's just horrendous," Goldstein said of the possible future for the state's parks. "It could impact these environmental and cultural resources for decades and decades."

The proposal is to cut the $150 million in general funds the state's park system would receive during the fiscal year 2009-10, which begins July 1, by $70 million.

Any reduced state payments to the park system would likely result in a number of staff members losing their jobs as state contributions are generally used for payroll efforts, the Chronicle said.

Parks spokesman Roy Stearns said such staff cuts would make it impossible to operate state parks, meaning such sites would have to close or an alternative funding source would have to be found.