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Nevada County's state park supporters might argue that 2011 was one of the worst years ever.
Faced with a multibillion-dollar deficit, California officials looked to cut funding to state parks by $22 million over the next two years.
In May, parks officials released a list of 70 state parks slated for closure, and two beloved western Nevada County parks — Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park and South Yuba River State Park — appeared on the list.
Their inclusion sparked local outrage.
“It was a lonely day on the bridge when I found (out),” said Alden Olmsted, whose father John, is largely responsible for the creation of the South Yuba park.
John Olmsted, a Nevada County resident and well-known crusader for parks and public lands in Northern California, died on March 8, before the park closure list was released.
The younger Olmsted countered the suggestion to shutter the park by creating the Olmsted Fund. Local businesses throughout the state feature a boot in a prominent place, and patrons are encouraged to contribute one dollar.
The movement to save the parks was not restricted to outdoors enthusiasts: The business community also weighed in.
“One thing I will say about the environmental and business community here is that we spend a lot of the time fighting. But there has never been a disagreement over the need to keep our state parks open,” said Grass Valley Councilwoman Lisa Swarthout in early December.
“They are a vital part of tourism and what brings people to Nevada County,” said Ron Moser, president of the Nevada County Economic Resource Council.
Progress appeared in early October, when Gov. Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 42 into law, which allows nonprofit organizations to enter into operating agreements with state parks to raise money to keep the parks viable.
“AB 42 is an important new tool for California to invite and engage qualified nonprofit organizations to help protect the state parks that belong to all of us,” said Elizabeth Goldstein, president of the California State Parks Foundation, the day after the law was enacted.
In early November, California legislators chastised state parks representatives for not considering unintended consequences of shutting the parks, such as potential lawsuits that will end up costing more than closing the parks would save.
Assemblyman Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, further criticized the department for not applying objective measurements when formulating the original closure list.
“It was not satisfying to learn the park closure process consisted of 12 unnamed people in a room throwing darts at a wall,” he said in a November interview.
This month, the South Yuba River Citizens League helped organize a town hall meeting to organize a local movement dedicated to opposing the shut-down of Malakoff and South Yuba parks.
About 400 residents attended, as private and public sector leaders urged the community to take action.
“We as taxpayers bought these parks, we renovated them and we operate them,” said Nevada County Supervisor Hank Weston during the town hall.
“These are ours. If at the county, you the taxpayers gave us something to take care of and we said, ‘Ahh, we've had enough fun playing with this, but we're going to just send it back,' I could see it all now — the torches and pitchforks would be out.”
SYRCL Executive Director Caleb Dardick announced the goal of procuring 5,000 signatures on a petition to oppose the closure of the two parks.
The signatures will be sent to California Gov. Jerry Brown, Dardick said.
Before Christmas, Dardick said the petition drive was making “significant progress,” as SYRCL volunteers collected nearly 2,800 signatures in nine days.
The drive includes rewards for the person able to garner the most signatures — a free pass to the 10th annual Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival in Nevada City in January and a $250 donation on behalf of the winner to a local school of choice.
SYRCL is in discussions with other stakeholders about establishing new methods of collecting revenue at the two state parks, the specifics of which will be divulged in 2012, Dardick said.
To contact Staff Writer Matthew Renda, e-mail mrenda@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4239.
Faced with a multibillion-dollar deficit, California officials looked to cut funding to state parks by $22 million over the next two years.
In May, parks officials released a list of 70 state parks slated for closure, and two beloved western Nevada County parks — Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park and South Yuba River State Park — appeared on the list.
Their inclusion sparked local outrage.
“It was a lonely day on the bridge when I found (out),” said Alden Olmsted, whose father John, is largely responsible for the creation of the South Yuba park.
John Olmsted, a Nevada County resident and well-known crusader for parks and public lands in Northern California, died on March 8, before the park closure list was released.
The younger Olmsted countered the suggestion to shutter the park by creating the Olmsted Fund. Local businesses throughout the state feature a boot in a prominent place, and patrons are encouraged to contribute one dollar.
The movement to save the parks was not restricted to outdoors enthusiasts: The business community also weighed in.
“One thing I will say about the environmental and business community here is that we spend a lot of the time fighting. But there has never been a disagreement over the need to keep our state parks open,” said Grass Valley Councilwoman Lisa Swarthout in early December.
“They are a vital part of tourism and what brings people to Nevada County,” said Ron Moser, president of the Nevada County Economic Resource Council.
Progress appeared in early October, when Gov. Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 42 into law, which allows nonprofit organizations to enter into operating agreements with state parks to raise money to keep the parks viable.
“AB 42 is an important new tool for California to invite and engage qualified nonprofit organizations to help protect the state parks that belong to all of us,” said Elizabeth Goldstein, president of the California State Parks Foundation, the day after the law was enacted.
In early November, California legislators chastised state parks representatives for not considering unintended consequences of shutting the parks, such as potential lawsuits that will end up costing more than closing the parks would save.
Assemblyman Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, further criticized the department for not applying objective measurements when formulating the original closure list.
“It was not satisfying to learn the park closure process consisted of 12 unnamed people in a room throwing darts at a wall,” he said in a November interview.
This month, the South Yuba River Citizens League helped organize a town hall meeting to organize a local movement dedicated to opposing the shut-down of Malakoff and South Yuba parks.
About 400 residents attended, as private and public sector leaders urged the community to take action.
“We as taxpayers bought these parks, we renovated them and we operate them,” said Nevada County Supervisor Hank Weston during the town hall.
“These are ours. If at the county, you the taxpayers gave us something to take care of and we said, ‘Ahh, we've had enough fun playing with this, but we're going to just send it back,' I could see it all now — the torches and pitchforks would be out.”
SYRCL Executive Director Caleb Dardick announced the goal of procuring 5,000 signatures on a petition to oppose the closure of the two parks.
The signatures will be sent to California Gov. Jerry Brown, Dardick said.
Before Christmas, Dardick said the petition drive was making “significant progress,” as SYRCL volunteers collected nearly 2,800 signatures in nine days.
The drive includes rewards for the person able to garner the most signatures — a free pass to the 10th annual Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival in Nevada City in January and a $250 donation on behalf of the winner to a local school of choice.
SYRCL is in discussions with other stakeholders about establishing new methods of collecting revenue at the two state parks, the specifics of which will be divulged in 2012, Dardick said.
To contact Staff Writer Matthew Renda, e-mail mrenda@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4239.
