Local environmental groups and Topanga residents celebrated Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s reinstatement of funding for 48 state parks that had been threatened with closure, including Topanga State Park, with a rousing rally under drizzling skies and the 30th Annual Jacqueline Hansen Tough Topanga 10K race on Saturday. Proceeds from the race benefited youth sport and fitness in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Under banners proclaiming the park SAFE FOR NOW! outside Trippet Ranch Lodge, Lynne Haigh of the Campaign to Save Topanga State Park spoke warmly of the governor’s budgetary decision following months of howling protests by nature lovers and heartfelt petitions by schoolchildren across the state.
“Forty-five years ago, Topanga State Park was established in an area slated for destruction by development,” Haigh said. “It’s been saved once again, but continues to need our help. California’s state parks have been placed on the endangered species list and we ask the Legislature to restore all of our funding.”
In the governor’s proposed budget, released last January, Schwarzenegger recommended closing 48 state parks to partially make up a budget shortfall that is now estimated to be $17.2 billion.
Following substantial statewide protest, including a group of Topanga sixth-graders who raised $1,000 to travel to Sacramento and personally deliver a petition, the governor has resubmitted a budget that restores $11.8 million of the $13.3 million in cuts, and asks parks services to make up the difference, perhaps through higher user fees.
Years of cuts in parks funding have led to more than a $1 billion backlog in deferred maintenance, creating a budgetary situation so perilous that the Washington D.C.-based, nonprofit National Trust of Historic Preservation has placed California’s 278-unit state park system on its list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.
Ruth Coleman, director of California State Parks, on Saturday said, “I want to give credit to Gov. Schwarzenegger, who inherited a system that has suffered from funding cuts for years. Every decision about our parks must now be made with thought for the next seven generations.”
Coleman reminded rally-goers that the state parks system educates more children each year than any organization other than public school, K-12, with nature tours and interactive science training.
“We also look after the health of our children, as evidenced by this 10K run,” Coleman said. “For the first time ever, this generation statistically will have shorter life spans than their parents, due to obesity and its related diseases. State parks helps that. You guys rock!”
Legislative director for Environment California, Dan Jacobson, said, “I’m here to say thank you to Gov. Schwarzenegger, who took the closure proposal off the table. People need parks and parks need protection!”
Lynette Hernandez, park services superintendent for the Topanga sector, had an ear-to-ear grin as she spoke of plans to go forward.
“On the field level here, we had no information on what changed the governor’s mind,” she said. “But I believe the outcry changed things. We look forward to working with groups such as this to keep residents informed of what our parks have to offer.”
Hernandez said that Trippet Lodge, the ’30s-era park ranger facility at the entrance to Topanga State Park, was in the process of rehabilitation and that volunteer, docent-led interpretive tours would continue.
“We expect to be fully staffed by Sept. 1,” Hernandez said.
When asked if park services would consider permitting more camping in area parks, (camping is permitted at Leo Carrillo State Park and Malibu Creek State Park, as well as Topanga State Park at the Musch Campground area) as a method to raise revenue, an idea that has met resistance because of fire safety issues, Hernandez offered options.
“If we could get people to pay the day-use fee, instead of parking on area streets, that would raise a lot of money,” she said. “We also want to encourage purchase of the Annual Day Use Pass. One hundred twenty dollars a year gets you into all our state parks as often as you wish.”
As the sun broke from the clouds, the 10K run organizers began to announce race winners, handing out T-shirts and medals. One longtime participant was wearing a commemorative T-shirt from the 1984 race.
Andy Salg, a 19-year-old student from Valley College, recorded the men’s overall best time of 38 minutes, 11 seconds. The women’s overall best time of 44 minutes, 33 seconds went to 25-year-old Nicole Campbell, whose mother, Barbara Campbell, is a popular local Realtor.