Follow Newser on Twitter   Friend Newser on Facebook
Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Arnold Don't Surf (Apologies to Robert Duvall)

Governator's plan to shut 48 state parks has laid-back Californians up in arms

By Will McCahill,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 11, 2008 2:35 PM CST
Email

(Newser) – California's budget mess has Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposing to shutter 48 state parks, the Los Angeles Times reports, to the outrage of devoted citizens. Schwarzenegger's list includes Gold Rush-era Sutter's Fort in Sacramento and San Simeon State Park near Hearst Castle. The Governator's no-new-taxes budget is aimed to close a $14.5-billion shortfall over the next 18 months.

Parks which produce the least revenue, are used the least, and are the easiest to secure made the list. Closing the parks and cutting back on lifeguards would free up $13.3 million and affect nearly 10% of state park users. State legislators say the governor is bluffing in order to get legislators to raise user fees.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger discussing the state budget with advisers at his Capitol office in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008. Schwarzenegger has proposed closing 48 state parks to cut spending. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger discussing the state budget with advisers at his Capitol office in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2008. Schwarzenegger has proposed closing 48 state parks to cut...   (Associated Press)
Mount San Jacinto seen above a burnt landscape. San Jacinto State Park is amongst those threatened with closure by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget.
Mount San Jacinto seen above a burnt landscape. San Jacinto State Park is amongst those threatened with closure by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget.   (Getty Images)
California Gov. Schwarzenegger proposed closing 48 of California's state parks and cutting by half the number of seasonal lifeguards at state beaches. The savings would total $13.3 million out of a $14.5 billion budget gap.
California Gov. Schwarzenegger proposed closing 48 of California's state parks and cutting by half the number of seasonal lifeguards at state beaches. The savings would total $13.3 million out of a $14.5...   (IndexOpen)
A picture of Will Rogers State Historic Park. This, along with 47 other state parks and beaches were scheduled to be closed as part of a extreme budget-cutting plan, proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday.
A picture of Will Rogers State Historic Park. This, along with 47 other state parks and beaches were scheduled to be closed as part of a extreme budget-cutting plan, proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger...   (www.parks.ca.gov)
A picture of Mt. San Jacinto State Park. This, along with 47 other state parks and beaches were scheduled to be closed as part of a extreme budget-cutting plan, proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday.
A picture of Mt. San Jacinto State Park. This, along with 47 other state parks and beaches were scheduled to be closed as part of a extreme budget-cutting plan, proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger...   (www.parks.ca.gov)
A picture of Sutter's Fort State Historic Park. This, along with 47 other state parks and beaches were scheduled to be closed as part of a extreme budget-cutting plan, proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday.
A picture of Sutter's Fort State Historic Park. This, along with 47 other state parks and beaches were scheduled to be closed as part of a extreme budget-cutting plan, proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger...   (www.parks.ca.gov)
A picture of Salton Sea State Recreation Area. This, along with 47 other state parks and beaches were scheduled to be closed as part of a extreme budget-cutting plan, proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday.
A picture of Salton Sea State Recreation Area. This, along with 47 other state parks and beaches were scheduled to be closed as part of a extreme budget-cutting plan, proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger...   (www.parks.ca.gov)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

Blog-rage
SFist.com

A map of closures
State of California Official Site

Beleaguered state official says closures just a proposal
Associated Press

California State Parks site
State of California

US • Politics

 
California • Arnold Schwarzenegger • nature • outdoors • parks • recreation

More Newser Stories

Calif. Billionaires Fight for $10B Tax Hike

Arnie Gives First Speech Since Scandal

Celeb Privacy Breach Costs UCLA Hospitals $865K

Mother of Terminator's Love Child ID'd

It's Splitsville for Schwarzenegger, Maria Shriver
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne