Schwarzenegger Might be Willing to Lose State Parks to Feds

Driving the Pacific Coast Highway through Point Mugu State Park | Photo by jbcurio via Flickr

Following up on an LAist story published last week, the San Jose Mercury News spoke to Governor Schwarzenegger's office about a letter from the National Park Service to the state about closing parks. In that letter, Pacific regional director Jon Jarvis, informed Schwarzenegger that closing some 69 parks that received funding in the past jeopardized all future funding and that a handful of parks deeded to the state from the feds, including part of Point Mugu near Malibu, could be repossessed.

If that were to happen, the National Park Service could give it to other government agencies or even private developers, the paper stated. Private developers? Does that mean Angel Island in San Francisco Bay became a hotel instead of historical site?

A Schwarzenegger spokesperson hinted that he is fully aware of the the letter and what could happen. Apparently, it doesn't change anything. "The governor understands there are consequences to these difficult cuts, but with a $24 billion deficit, there are no good options." A proposed option to add a $15 fee to the annual vehicle registration that would more than fully fund state parks will be vetoed, said the Governor.