Jay Gamel, reporting for the Kenwood Press, writes that uncertainty, objectives and habits all play a part in daily operations:
California’s state park system is under scrutiny by an independent commission tasked to revamp the entire system by 2015. As part of this process, the Parks Forward Commission has held 10 public workshops throughout the state, taking testimony from private and public sectors, seeking to find sources of sustainable funding, expand park availability to all Californians, and examine the role of private partners in the future of park operations.
In addressing the issue of private partners, the commission wants to establish what’s working in existing park operating partnerships and management arrangements, what are appropriate roles for partners in running state parks, and how to develop and manage effective operating partnerships.
Since a state budget crisis in 2011 prompted the legislature to propose closing 70 parks, including Sugarloaf, Jack London and Annadel parks here in Sonoma County, a host of private and nonprofit groups have stepped forward to keep these parks running, including the County of Sonoma, whose own Regional Parks Department took over Annadel operations for a year.
While the impact of these parks on the local economy can be difficult to measure, they attract many thousands of people a year to Sonoma Valley from throughout the Bay Area, people who make up a substantial element in the entire county’s thriving tourist industry, visiting wineries, restaurants, and buying food and supplies for their stays.
The parks also provide a scenic element to the region that has an impact on quality of life for residents and a very positive effect on real estate values.
Local groups operating these parks had a chance to address the commission in October at a San Rafael hearing (Kenwood Press, Oct. 15, 2013), and it was clear that there have been growing pains in their working with state park officials at times.
You can read more about the relationship between Parks Forward and the California State Parks HERE.