copyright 2011 – Backcountry Pictures

Point Lobos State Natural Preserve Frame from PBS documentary – California Forever.

Ancient redwoods towering over the dark forest floor, elephant seals lazing on a Central Coast beach, urban hikers testing themselves on the ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­steep trails of the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, off-roaders racing across the dunes in the Anza-Borrego desert – the diversity of our state parks mirrors the diversity at the core of our California identity.

In the recent controversy over park closures and “hidden” funds, the real challenges to the California state park system can be forgotten: rising temperatures and sea levels, lack of space in the crowded urban core, ever shrinking budgets and controversy and contention over how they should be used and by whom.

KPCC’s Nick Roman, writer/director David Vassar joined members of the parks community in the Crawford Family Forum as we screened "California Forever: Parks for the Future," from a documentary series soon to be seen on PBS stations nationwide.

Panel:

Nick Roman, managing editor, KPCC

David Vassar, writer and director, “California Forever,” a two-part PBS television special airing this fall

Sean Woods, superintendent, Los Angeles sector of California State Parks

David McNeill, executive director, Baldwin Hills Conservancy

Sara Feldman, vice president for programs, California State Parks Foundation