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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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6

Brother, Can You Save a Park?

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(Newser) – Cash-strapped California parks are searching for private money to cope with the state's sweeping budget cuts, the Los Angeles Times reports. Up to 100 of California's 279 state parks and beaches could be forced to close after Labor Day. Just 13 of them make enough money to survive without state funds, and officials hope to find corporate sponsorship deals that won't destroy the parks' character.

"Maybe we can find agreements that don't alter, commercialize or degrade our state park system," said a parks department spokesman. "If Budweiser came forward with money for Malibu Beach State Park, we wouldn't change the name to Budweiser Beach. But why not put up a banner saying, 'This park is kept open by Budweiser?'"

Visitation at Bodie State Park
Visitation at Bodie State Park "is seasonal and it does not generate enough revenues to fully fund the cost of keeping it open," officials say.   (©Ekke Vasli)
California's Bodie State Park, one of the best-preserved ghost towns in the country, is classed as vulnerable under budget cuts.
California's Bodie State Park, one of the best-preserved ghost towns in the country, is classed as vulnerable under budget cuts.   (©mandj98)
The Save Our State Parks Campaign holds a demonstration outside the California State Capitol last month.
The Save Our State Parks Campaign holds a demonstration outside the California State Capitol last month.   (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)
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We're reaching out to all possible partners—cities, counties, nonprofits, banks, corporations, newspapers, individuals—who would be interested in helping us.
- Roy Stearns, spokesman for California's parks department

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6 comments
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armywife
Jul 30, 09 2:49 AM CDT
i hope they can come up with some sort of solution. werent a lot of state parks 'founded' during FDR's term as part of the New deal to get america out of the depression by giving them jobs building facilties at state parks? the WPA program? if so, that is some sad irony. Reply
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+3
bewilderbeast
Jul 30, 09 4:42 AM CDT
Where are the filthy rich who made their fortunes from Greed Capitalism? Gates? Buffet? Murdoch? Trump? etc Why don't you guys do something that actually will leave a decent legacy? Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
radnip
Aug 2, 09 12:14 AM CDT
Arnie is standing in front of them, blocking any tax increases relating to them, including oil producers, rich commercial properties and rich people buying luxury items. Go Arnie! He says it's only fair the children, sick and elderly suffer. It's not like California can provide the services it wants. The rich might have to put a little bit less into their Swiss bank accounts or pay out a million less in bonuses. Arnie won't stand for that. I'm sure he'll go for tax cuts, though.
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Reader60610265
Jul 30, 09 7:34 AM CDT
Don't forget most of the dew deal programs didn't work . Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
Mad
Jul 30, 09 3:10 PM CDT
OMG, Fox spewed that lie, didn't they? I mean, no legitimate agency would dare breathe such a damn lie. Cite your source for such nonsense
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+1

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