January 5, Governor Jerry Brown released a Fiscal Year 2012-13 State Budget that contains dire cuts to California’s state park system. The budget continues down the path of closing state parks with the inclusion of a reduction of General Fund support of $11 million. When combined with the $11 million cut from Fiscal Year 2011-12 State Budget, the result is a full $22 million General Fund cut to the Department of Parks and Recreation, necessitating the closure of up to 70 state parks. Equally serious and provocative, the budget proposes to eliminate all seasonal lifeguards (which effectively eliminates all lifeguards on all state beaches), and eliminate 20 percent of all rangers in California state parks, if the Governor’s November ballot initiative for new revenue isn’t successful. Despite the fact that a decision on that initiative is ten months away, the Governor is demanding that these draconian budget cuts be committed to this Spring.

Take action now by telling Governor Brown to stop playing politics with state parks! Send your letter today.

Park closures, service reductions and damaging development proposals threaten the integrity of California’s state park system, and the irreplaceable natural, cultural and historic resources they contain. California’s state parks are YOUR state parks, and you can help save them. In addition to sending a letter to the Governor opposing his FY12-13 cuts to state parks and threats to eliminate core lifeguards and rangers in our parks, here are 4 simple things you can do to help Save our State Parks::

As part of our ongoing efforts to Save Our State Parks, the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) has launched a business-oriented campaign to send a powerful message to Governor Brown and the Legislature: ‘Closing Parks is Bad for Business.’ The new campaign kicked off during a state parks march and rally at the Capitol, where advocates gathered to bring awareness to the negative impacts park closures will have on California’s economy. Read more and find out how to get involved.

CSPF is currently working with Environment California to gather signatures from business owners, local chambers of commerce and convention & visitors bureaus onto a letter to Governor Brown urging him to keep state parks open.  If you are a business owner or manager that wants to keep our parks open, sign this letter to Governor Jerry Brown asking him to protect our parks, not cut them.

CSPF invites you to join us on Tuesday, March 20, in Sacramento for CSPF’s 10th Annual Park Advocacy Day! Participating in Park Advocacy Day is a fun and meaningful way to make a positive impact on the policies and legislative changes that affect state parks. By participating in Park Advocacy Day, you have the opportunity to make a lasting by helping to educate and influence policymakers as they make important decisions about California’s state park system.

Please visit calparks.org to learn more about Park Advocacy Day and to register.