[pct-l] Some State Parks Scheduled For Closure May Stay Open

[Alley Kitten]

I just got a news update that a lot of the state parks which were scheduled
to close may remain open do to federal funding.


--news text--

SACRAMENTO (KTLA) -- Sixteen of the parks scheduled for closure under
Governor Jerry Brown's latest budget may be allowed to stay open thanks to
federal funding.

State parks officials announced plans to close 70 parks earlier this month
due to the budget deficit.

The San Jose Mercury News reported Saturday that the parks actually receive
federal funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and cannot be
closed by the state.

The fund, which is given as a grant to the state, requires state parks
receiving financing must remain open or another of equal size must be opened
nearby.

The list of saved parks were not named, but some of the parks that receive
federal funding include:

   - Salton Sea State Recreation Area, Imperial County;
   - Twin Lakes State Beach, Santa Cruz;
   - Castle Rock State Park, Santa Clara County;
   - Portola Redwoods, San Mateo County;
   - Candlestick Point, San Francisco;
   - Limekiln, Big Sur.

The closures will translate to a $11 million reduction for the 2011-2012
fiscal year, and another $22 million the next year.

Officials say parks were chosen based on attendance rates and historical
significance.

The department operates more than 270 state park units covering more than
1.4 million acres.

--end news text--

The article also had a list of the parks scheduled for closure on the
webpage:
http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-state-park-closures,0,572941.story

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