You knew after months—years, really—of dispute over the budget for the California State Parks system, the axe was going to fall. In a memo entitled, “Examples of Service Reduction Plan” California State Parks officials spelled out the kinds of cuts necessary to operate the system on a much-reduced budget.
The 21 State Park District Superintendents were assigned the responsibility of assigning service reductions for their respective areas on a park by park basis. Some of the more noticeable changes, including reduced park hours of operation were scheduled to be implemented on November 1.
While the reduction plan isn’t final, and will vary from district to district and park to park, the list provided by California State Parks (hooray for the agency’s transparency!) offers a picture of what’s to come.
 
It’s not a pretty picture, but one we park-goers need to look at nevertheless. Here are just a few examples.
 
Southern California: Popular beach parks in Orange County will reduce by half the number of trashcans on the beach. Restroom cleaning and fire ring cleaning will be reduced by half. There will be no off-season chemical toilets and lifeguards will be limited to response by permanent staff. Trail upkeep and habitat restoration will be reduced by 50 percent.
 
Central California: Angel Island State Park will close all restrooms on the island except Ayala Cove through April 2010 (opening weekends and holidays as needed). Environmental Living school programs and other educational and interpretive programs will be limited until seasonal interpretive staff can be brought on.
 
Northern California: Portola Redwoods State Park will be closed Sunday through Thursday from November through April. Prairie CreekRedwoodsState Park will close December through February. Candlestick Point State Recreation Area parking lots and 4 (out of 6) restrooms) will be closed Thursdays and Fridays.