State Parks Strapped for Funds

[. dkoloko]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/07/us/07parks.html

Demetri

[Chuck Davis]

A number of OKs parks are slated for closing

On Tue, Jun 7, 2011 at 12:56 PM, . dkoloko <dko...@gmail.com> wrote:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/07/us/07parks.html

Demetri

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I'm Chuck Davis and I approved this posting notwithstanding some moderators won't

 

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[Anne Paulson]

A horrifying number of California State Parks popular with cyclists
are scheduled for closing, including several highly used by Pacific
Coast riders. Here is a sampling; I have camped at all of these:

Bothe-Napa Valley SP
China Camp SP
Del Norte Coast Redwoods SP
Grizzly Creek Redwoods SP
Hendy Woods SP
Henry W. Coe SP
Limekiln SP
Manchester SP
Portola Redwoods SP
Russian Gulch SP
Samuel P. Taylor SP
Standish-Hickey SRA
Tomales Bay SP

So, if you're planning a Pacific Coast ride, pay attention.

On Tue, Jun 7, 2011 at 11:02 AM, Chuck Davis <dang....@gmail.com> wrote:
> A number of OKs parks are slated for closing

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-- Anne Paulson

My hovercraft is full of eels

[Chuck Davis]

We have quite a few of CE Rec Areas here in OK that gen are better maintained than the State Parks that don't appear to be effected at this time but I would not be surprised at cut backs down the line

[Andy Goodell]

It generally is bad when parks are closing, but I'm curious what the really means. Some closed throughout NY last year, but that generally meant that there's just no regular maintenance and no "services" like bathrooms. For a touring cyclist, that doesn't sound like a major downfall though. Probably means secluded spots with no RVs in the way and free campsites.

[Chuck Davis]

When "sites" are not mainained on a regular basis they tend to go to hell pretty quick and are much more difficult to rehab in hopefully  "better" times down the road

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[Anne Paulson]

Closing means no water, no restrooms, no maintenance, locked gates. It
also means weeds, erosion and fallen trees in the campsites-- those
campsites have to be maintained.

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[Andy Goodell]

I haven't been to many closed parks around here, but I got the impression that they were still mowed once in a while, otherwise it would be back to forest with a much harder chance to reopen later. I guess no water in the east is a lot different than the west though...

The park that cut got here used to have a lifeguard at a swim area, and they cut the funding for lifeguards (but is otherwise open). So instead, they have 1-2 cops patrolling the area. I'm going to make the assumption that one teenage lifeguard is much easier to fund than two state troopers (probably on overtime, plus benefits)... so it's not like this was a good way to save on state funding....

[Anne Paulson]

On Tue, Jun 7, 2011 at 12:41 PM, Andy Goodell <geekg...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I haven't been to many closed parks around here, but I got the impression
> that they were still mowed once in a while, otherwise it would be back to
> forest with a much harder chance to reopen later. I guess no water in the
> east is a lot different than the west though...

If you do a Google image search for the parks I mentioned, you'll
quickly see that lawns and mowing are not much of a feature. It's
difficult to grow a lawn in a redwood forest-- too shady. I'm not an
expert in park maintenance for these parks, but I suspect it's mostly
maintaining the built environment (the roads, the restrooms, etc) and
cleaning up the mess after the winter rains.

The closing of Standish-Hickey State Park will be a real loss for
cyclists. There's not an obvious substitute.

[Jon Meinecke]

The closed state parks I've seen were locked and 'posted'.

They don't want people in the parks because of vandalism

and liability.  In some places, I've seen elaborate trenches

and berms built to prevent people from bypassing gates

at closed parks.

Budget cuts for Texas Park and Wildlife were projected to

be about 25%.  One report said it would be about $160M

in cuts.  There are some state parks here listed for closure

or transfer to local operation.  Probably not the potential

impact on cycle tourists as the California coastal parks

closing.

As for wild camping in closed parks, assuming they're

not posted, it likely would cut down on the RV'ing neighbors.

However, I would still miss the facilities.  After a day of

cycling, a shower is always nice.  Of course there are

DIY alternatives...

Jon