Keep State Parks Open for All! Green Access, Child Obesity, Youth, Poverty and People of Color by County

The Governor has proposed closing 220 out of 279 priceless State Parks to save money. The proposal would close three out of every four state parks and cut $143 million from State Parks’ budget.

Four of the eight counties with the greatest green access need in the state would lose over 700,000 acres of State Parks, more than the other 54 counties combined. Those four counties alone would lose 723,195 acres, over half of the 1,287,645 acres to be closed statewide. Green access need is measured in combined terms of the fewest acres of parks per thousand residents, and the highest levels of child obesity, youth, poverty, and people of color.

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 ten counties that would lose the most acres of State Parks would lose 1,013,822 acres, which is 78% of all acres to be closed. Those ten counties are shown in the map above.