Keep State Parks Open for All! Park Poverty and Income Poverty

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.

Everyone will suffer from the closure of parks, but people of color and low income communities 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.

The California legislature through AB 31 has determined that community park funds should be invested in communities that are park poor and income poor.  Park poor is less than three acres of parks per thousand residents. Income poor is below $47,959 median household income.  These communities are show in the map above, with the red hot spots showing the communities that are both park poor and income poor.

Learn more by downloading the Policy Report Economic Stimulus, Green Space, and Equal Justice (The City Project 2009).