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Prodigy, 21, about to become doctor
SACRAMENTO, May 14 (UPI) -- Budget cuts are forcing the closing of about one-quarter of California's state parks, officials say.
The 70 state parks on the list will begin closing down in September, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The shutdown will be completed in 2012.
Gov. Jerry Brown and the state Legislature agreed to cut $22 million from the parks budget as part of an effort to close the state's yawning budget gap, the newspaper said. The parks have lost $75 million in 10 years and now employ about as many people as they did in 1979 when acreage was much smaller and there were 10 million fewer annual visitors.
"Closing state parks is not a task that gives anyone joy, but we are experiencing turbulent times that necessitate deep -- almost unthinkable -- cuts to public services," Brown said in a statement.
The parks selected for closing were picked based on the number of visitors and other factors. While all state beaches in Southern California are staying open, many historic parks, including the former governor's mansion in Sacramento, will be shuttered.
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