State parks to stay open despite budget cuts

California’s state parks will stay open – despite giant budget cuts. That’s the word Friday out of Sacramento. KPCC’s state capitol reporter Julie Small has the details.

Earlier this year, state lawmakers cut 10 percent out of the budget for state parks. Officials with the Department of Parks and Recreation said they’d have to close down as many as a hundred parks to cope with the shortfall.

Governor Schwarzenegger pushed for a less drastic solution, and found it. Parks will shorten their hours; some may close during the week, or close off certain areas indefinitely – like a back loop of campgrounds. They’ll also reduce staff, cut maintenance for the rest of the fiscal year, and cancel purchases for equipment and vehicles.

Altogether, the changes will save an estimated $14 million. But the state parks aren’t out of the woods yet. Administrators will have to cut $22 million from the budget cut in the next fiscal year. A spokesman for the governor said they’ll continue to explore partnerships with private entities to help pay the bills for California’s parks.