Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill that will allow some state parks scheduled for closure to remain open if qualified nonprofit organizations agree to run them, according to a report by the Bay Citizen.
Assemblyman Jared Huffman’s Assembly Bill 42 authorizes the California Department of Parks and Recreation to enter into agreements with the nonprofits.
Seventy state parks are scheduled to close next summer because of the state budget deficit.
“Particularly in these tough economic times, creative public/private partnerships are an essential tool in providing ongoing protection of, and continuing access to these public assets,” Huffman said.
California State Parks Foundation president Elizabeth Goldstein said the foundation will continue to work with nonprofit groups that want to protect the parks. She said Huffman’s bill will lessen the blow from park closures and encourage other groups to get involved in saving the parks.
