Comments on: They Wouldn’t Close an Entire State Park System, Would They? http://interpnet.com/naiblog/?p=119 The National Association for Interpretation's Blog Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:21:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Tim Merriman http://interpnet.com/naiblog/?p=119&cpage=1#comment-60 Tim Merriman Sat, 08 Aug 2009 21:50:29 +0000 http://interpnet.com/naiblog/?p=119#comment-60 Dear NAI: Perhaps some of you have heard about California's budget woes and especially the Governor's scheme to shut down (close) more than 200 parks. Now the new budget calls for closing 100 or so. Of course, as a retired state park ranger, I think the notion of closing all these parks is outlandishly stupid. There was a bill to enact a $15 fee on car licenses ... with the money funding all parks. But the state's Republican legislators refused to vote for this bill. By the way, the bill would have then given free day use to California registered vehicles, which lots of people would have appreciated. Question to you all ... has the governor of any of the other states tried to do enact such a hair-brained idea to close most all state parks? Thanks for considering announcing this somewhere. Bill Krumbein Santa Rosa, CA NAI Life member Dear NAI:

Perhaps some of you have heard about California’s budget woes and especially the Governor’s scheme to shut down (close) more than 200 parks.
Now the new budget calls for closing 100 or so.

Of course, as a retired state park ranger, I think the notion of closing all these parks is outlandishly stupid.

There was a bill to enact a $15 fee on car licenses … with the money funding all parks. But the state’s Republican legislators refused to vote for this
bill. By the way, the bill would have then given free day use to California registered vehicles, which lots of people would have appreciated.

Question to you all … has the governor of any of the other states tried to do enact such a hair-brained idea to close most all state
parks?

Thanks for considering announcing this somewhere.

Bill Krumbein
Santa Rosa, CA

NAI Life member

]]> By: Chris Davis http://interpnet.com/naiblog/?p=119&cpage=1#comment-51 Chris Davis Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:42:39 +0000 http://interpnet.com/naiblog/?p=119#comment-51 Arizona nearly shut down all state parks prior to the 4th of July Weekend, (July1). This was a result of the state not being able to set a budget, so with the impasse, they were closing all state parks except three, two of which were being operated by their local cities until July 5th. These cities got a special use agreement to operate, maintain and control the parks. Luckily, the budget passed and they never really closed. Michael Kirschman is right about outside funding. The cities who agreed to run their local parks realized the financial impact closing their parks for a major holiday weekend would have, so they worked to keep them open. I hope these state scenarios are not a micrcosms of what is to come nationally with public lands. Arizona nearly shut down all state parks prior to the 4th of July Weekend, (July1). This was a result of the state not being able to set a budget, so with the impasse, they were closing all state parks except three, two of which were being operated by their local cities until July 5th. These cities got a special use agreement to operate, maintain and control the parks. Luckily, the budget passed and they never really closed. Michael Kirschman is right about outside funding. The cities who agreed to run their local parks realized the financial impact closing their parks for a major holiday weekend would have, so they worked to keep them open. I hope these state scenarios are not a micrcosms of what is to come nationally with public lands.

]]> By: Sama http://interpnet.com/naiblog/?p=119&cpage=1#comment-50 Sama Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:52:37 +0000 http://interpnet.com/naiblog/?p=119#comment-50 It's called revenge. Arnold and the legislature to voters: you didn't give us what we wanted, so we're going to take our ball and go home. They figure there's no harm cutting something that only hurts "the bourgeois". Even if actually generates income and interest in the state. It’s called revenge. Arnold and the legislature to voters: you didn’t give us what we wanted, so we’re going to take our ball and go home. They figure there’s no harm cutting something that only hurts “the bourgeois”. Even if actually generates income and interest in the state.

]]> By: Michael Kirschman http://interpnet.com/naiblog/?p=119&cpage=1#comment-49 Michael Kirschman Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:45:26 +0000 http://interpnet.com/naiblog/?p=119#comment-49 Well said Jim. I've been watching the CA situation closely. As interpreters or site mgrs, if you're not in this same situation right now, now is the time to seriously think about and implement strategies for how you would deal with this reality if it hit your site. Partnerships, friends groups, outside funding, clear and factual data on the value of your site/services/programs, etc. all take years to develop. Once you're hit with sweeping budget cuts, that is not the time to begin working on these. Plan ahead, and plan for the worst (while hoping for the best). Regardless if you're ever hit w/ major cuts, the above strategies and methods of increasing your sites awareness and effectiveness will serve you well. Well said Jim. I’ve been watching the CA situation closely. As interpreters or site mgrs, if you’re not in this same situation right now, now is the time to seriously think about and implement strategies for how you would deal with this reality if it hit your site. Partnerships, friends groups, outside funding, clear and factual data on the value of your site/services/programs, etc. all take years to develop. Once you’re hit with sweeping budget cuts, that is not the time to begin working on these. Plan ahead, and plan for the worst (while hoping for the best). Regardless if you’re ever hit w/ major cuts, the above strategies and methods of increasing your sites awareness and effectiveness will serve you well.

]]>