Governor’s
State Park
Plan Ignites
Student Activism
Michael Tyler, Staff Reporter
Michael_Tyler@csumb.edu
May 8, 2008
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed the closure of
48 State Parks including the yet to be opened Fort Ord
Dunes State Park, located adjacent to the CSU Monterey
Bay (CSUMB) campus.
The proposal would cut $17 million in annual support
as part of an attempt to bridge a $14.5 million revenue
shortfall. California’s state legislators are contemplating the
proposed parks closure in an attempt to balance the 2008-
2009 State Budget. Student groups throughout the state’s
universities, including CSUMB, have formed activist groups
in an attempt to keep the parks open.
In 1992 the Fort Ord Base Closure Committee deeded
990 acres of coastal lands to the National Parks Department
as part of a cleanup and transition process for public use of
the former artillery range. Located on Monterey Bay, the
Dunes has 4 miles of visually pristine shoreline with views
spanning Pacific Grove to the Santa Cruz Mountains.
California State Parks District Planner Ken Gray said
that the long delay in transferring the land to the public
was due to environmental cleanup including the
removal of lead bullets and unspent ordinances
left by the Army.
“A cleanup team lead by the Fort
Ord Reuse Authority (FORA),
the Environmental Protection
Agency, the California
Department of Toxic
Substance Control and
the Army prepared
the land for
public use,”
said Gray.
“ T h e
park is still in Federal hands and the State Park has only
been given operational control for now.”
Although a general plan for the Dunes was approved
by the California Department of Parks and Recreation and
stages of transfer were approved by FORA, the park was
still put on Gov. Schwarzenegger’s closure list.
“We are hoping that the proposal is modified,” said Gray.
“The legislators will examine the alternatives as early as
May 15 and there will hopefully be a budget revisal.”
Citizens and students have formed protests and activist
groups against the closure of the State Parks. CSUMB
Student Public Relations Director Randy Rigali has led a
petition effort on campus in order to gain signatures to send
to the Governor. Rigali also organized a student bonfire on
April 25 which was quickly shut down by park rangers.
“The park rangers were there waiting for us. They said
that a bonfire’s not going to happen. That we are fortunate to
be able to come out and use the running trails,” said Rigali.
If the Dunes park does open, the policy will be no fires,
no sliding down the dunes, and no dogs on the beach.
“These policies are part of the agreement to protect the
Western Snowy-Plover, an endangered species that nest
on the beach,” said Gray. “Once the park is officially open
then the public will have complete access to the parking
lot, paved trails, and beach but they still will need to stay
in the marked areas in order to preserve the habitat.”
Gray noted that there has recently been some graffiti
and vandalism near the park but asked that everyone
contributes in taking care of the habitat and help create a
park that all can enjoy.
Park advocates such as Huell Houser, host of the television
series “California’s Gold,” echo the same sentiments. In a
web cast announcement Houser stated that “our parks are
too important to close,” and encouraged anyone interested
to visit savestateparks.org to get involved.
Park hours for the Dunes have not yet
been determined according to the General
Plan. Potential park facilities include up
to 286 parking spaces, 110 campsites and
a youth hostel. A conservative estimation
of potential park visitors indicates a
maximum of nearly 3,350 visitors per day.
The park will also have bike trails which
connect it to the CalTrain bike path.
To express concern, letters can be sent to:
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
For a complete list of
California State Parks
facing possible closure,
visit: savestateparks.org/
facts/park-closures.html