The California Attorney General’s office releases the results of its investigation into the State Parks Department over its funding fiasco.
Investigation finds State Parks deliberately hid some funds
January 4, 2013 •
Parks
California's state park system is the largest and most diverse natural and cultural heritage holdings in the nation. Yet the century-and-a-half-old system has been in perpetual crisis mode for several decades, battered about by funding shortfalls and repeated threats of closures.
The General’s mission for California state parks
December 21, 2012 •
Major General Anthony Jackson came out of retirement for one more mission: to turn around California’s state parks department. In a Bay Nature interview, Jackson explains why, “My goal, honest and truly, is not closing any parks.”
Will park groups accept the state’s apology?
October 30, 2012 •
The California parks department is figuring out how to disperse $10 million to groups that kept their local state parks from closing this year. But some parks fans wonder how they’ll get out from the shadow of a parks department in scandal.
Sonoma parks turn to South Africa, elsewhere for funding ideas
September 17, 2012 •
What does South Africa and Sonoma County have in common? Both suffer from debilitating shortages of public funds for parks. In the aftermath of the California state parks crisis, parks advocates in Sonoma County are scouting around for enterprising ideas … Read more
Under new management: China Camp volunteers take the helm
August 10, 2012 •
After six months of fundraising, the nonprofit Friends of China Camp raised $250,000, enough money to take over operations of the cultural and historical landmark along the northwest shores of the San Francisco Bay. Just one day after assuming the … Read more
In state parks uproar, Benicia keeps its cool
August 9, 2012 •
While park advocates around the state expressed shock and anger over the discovery of a secret stash of $54 million in the state parks department, the city of Benicia kept its cool. “I was surprised there was that large a … Read more
Fixing State Parks without the “scandal”
July 31, 2012 •
It’s certainly not hard to apply words like “outrageous” and “appalling” to the current scandal surrounding $54 million dollars in funding for state parks that had gone unspent and undiscovered for over ten years. But it’s not going to do … Read more
Downtown parks get higher profile
July 20, 2012 •
Downtown San Francisco doesn’t typically spring to mind when planning an outdoor excursion. But get past the crowded streets and there’s a multitude of lovely open spaces, replete with honest to goodness foliage. In fact, the city boasts a large … Read more
-150x150.jpg)
Lawmakers scramble to avert park closures
June 4, 2012 •
With state park closures only a month away, California lawmakers are scrambling to send long-lasting aid to the state park system and keep the gates open.
-150x150.jpg)
First to the finish line: Jack London State Park
May 2, 2012 •
For the past 35 years, Valley of the Moon Natural History Association has been helping greet and educate visitors at the Jack London State Historic Park in Sonoma County.As of May 1, however, it’s taken charge of the whole park: 1,400 acres, 10,000 artifacts, and more than a dozen historic buildings.