Take Action: Keep California State Parks Open for All!

June 1, 2009 UPDATED

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol, First Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Via Fax: 916-558-3160

Re: Keep California State Parks Open for All

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:

Rather than threatening to close state parks – again – California should be using the state parks as an economic stimulus to help get the state back to work through green jobs and healthy, livable communities for all. Parks are an economic stimulus and a vital part of the state’s infrastructure. A recent study by New York State, for example, shows that state parks give back more than five times the state investment, with billions of dollars in annual economic impacts in addition to 20,000 jobs.

Even in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, people across the United States voted to tax themselves to provide billions of dollars to create green space in November 2008. California voters have repeatedly voted to tax themselves to create more parks over the past ten years. The Obama administration has launched a $787 billion economic stimulus package to get the nation back to work, and additional megafunds have become available for green space from other federal, state and local sources.

Drawing on New Deal lessons for economic recovery through infrastructure investments, parks can provide economic benefits including places for physical activity to reduce obesity, improve health, and cut medical costs; local green jobs for youth and small and disadvantaged business enterprises; Conservation Corps type programs to diversify job and career opportunities for all and to permanently improve the park system, and transit to trails.

Parks offer multiple benefits beyond dollars and cents. These benefits include the simple joys of playing in the park; social cohesion, or bringing people together; improved physical, psychic, and social health; improved youth development and academic performance; positive alternatives to gangs, crime, drugs, and violence; conservation values of clean air, water, land, and habitat protection, and climate justice; art, culture and historic preservation; preservation of Native American sites; spiritual values in protecting the earth and its people; and sustainable regional planning. Fundamental principles of equal justice and democracy justify equal access to these benefits.

Everyone will suffer from the closure of parks, but people of color will suffer first and worst because they systematically lack access to parks and recreation. A diverse and growing alliance supports equal access to green space to achieve healthy livable communities for all, including economic justice, health, youth, job, and environmental advocates.

The fact that voters rejected the recent ballot propositions does not mean voters want fewer services and lower taxes. Voters want effective government.

We fully incorporate by reference here the attached Policy Report Economic Stimulus, Green Space, and Equal Justice (The City Project 2009) and the principles and policies of the California Green Stimulus Group. We also refer you to the reports Realizing the Vision for a Healthy California: Opportunities in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Strategic Alliance 2009) and A Stimulus for Better Health: Realizing the Vision for a Healthy California (Prevention Institute 2009).

We look forward to working with you, the legislature, and the people to keep state parks open for all.

Very truly yours,

Anahuak Youth Sports Association
BikeSage
California Center for Public Health Advocacy
California Green Stimulus Coalition
California Food Policy Advocates
California Pan Ethnic Health Network
Caminando cón Fé/Walking with Faith
Cesar Chavez Institute, San Francisco State University
Communities for a Better Environment
Community Health Councils
Ella Baker Center for Human Rights
Environment California
George Koster Consulting
Global Exchange
Green LA Coalition
Greenlining Institute
Healthy for Life (CCROPP) Tulare County
LA Community Garden Council
National Hispanic Environmental Council (NHEC)
Policy Link
Prevention Institute
Robert Bracamontes, Acjachemen Nation, Juaneño Tribe
Samuels and Associates
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 721
Sierra Business Council
Social and Public Art Resource Center (SPARC)
Southern California Watershed Alliance
The City Project
TransForm
Union of Concerned Scientists
Urban Semillas
Youth Violence and Gang Prevention, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
(Partial list)

ACT NOW!

Download this letter by clicking here.

Download maps of the proposed closures here.

Download a Sample Letter for you to send to Governor Schwarzenegger.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol, First Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: 916-558-3160

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