I’ve been doing A LOT of research for my nonprofit and have found how increasingly important PARKS and RECREATIONS are for our kids and for our families - Not only is this the place were people congregate to celebrate events and get in touch with nature, but it’s protected by the state and the hazardous development that occurs in every city.

Last month, Governor Schwarzenegger proposed to close 48 state parks in order to keep within his state budget. He also proposed to reduce lifeguard staffing at 16 state beaches in Santa Cruz, Orange and San Diego Counties.
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Please take the time to read a letter from the CPRS President:

The 48 parks proposed for closure span California and include 17 state parks, 17 state historic parks and museums, 3 state beaches, 9 state recreation areas and 2 state reserves. This action will close nearly one in every five parks currently operated by the State of California Department of Parks and Recreation. In reality, the cost savings to the State for these closures is relatively minimal at 9 million, when compared to the $14 billion state deficit. For a list of the proposed park and beach closures click here: http://www.cprs.org/doc/ProposedParkBeachClosures.doc
Closing state parks and reducing lifeguards will create significant negative consequences for California resident’s a health and safety. Millions of children and adults rely on our state parks for recreation, mental & physical health, and social connections between people and nature. Closures will result in a degradation of California ’s valuable cultural, historic and environmental resources preserved and protected within these state parks.
As CPRS members and as professionals involved with providing park and recreation for California , it is important that we tell our Governor and our State Legislators that these cuts are not only imprudent, but penny wise and pound foolish from a health and safety perspective for California . It needs to be said that the action of the Governor and the Legislature in balancing budgets by closing parks will be closely watched by local government officials as they wrestle with similar fiscal problems.

As CPRS President, I ask you to write your State Legislator and Governor Schwarzenegger urging him to keep our state parks open and our beaches safe. Ask the Governor and your Legislators to find other more responsible ways to balance our State’s budget and solve California ’s fiscal crisis. For the sample letter to send to the Governor and your respective State Assembly and State Senator, please click here: http://www.cprs.org/doc/LegLtr_1.doc

As a profession, we need to stand together in making a strong statement about the importance of parks to the safety, healthy and economic vitality of California . Thank you for consideration of this request in preserving the integrity and viability of California ’s State Parks.
Mike Shellito
CPRS President
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I am sending a letter - and I hope all of you will too! We need our parks, we need our beaches - we need protection for our hills, beaches, trees, grasslands, etc. WE NEED OUR PARKS.

Take care of our parks - utilize our parks - FIGHT for our parks!!!!