Talking Points

• For visitors, tourists, campers and others who love the California State Park system, the news is good. California State Parks will not be closing.

• Governor Schwarzenegger worked with the Parks Department to identify a new solution, not available under previous budget mandates, to keep parks open and operating throughout the state.

• The new solution offers a one-time, one-year budget reduction, instead of a multi-year reduction.

• The Parks Department will achieve the one-time budget savings by reducing expenditures for equipment and maintenance, modifying some park schedules to lower costs of operation, and reducing staffing at their Sacramento headquarters, thereby preventing any full park closures.

• In this new option, park schedule changes and other reductions are being planned in such a way as to minimize disruptions to visitors, achieve cost savings and maintain park fee revenues.

• For visitors headed for California parks from across the state, nation and around the world, this is the news that will put vacation plans back in place. However, be advised that while we are no longer facing park closures, we are not resuming camping reservations for March and April 2010 until we are able to determine how best to operate within the $14 million reduction. Our web site will update information when it is available.

• In addition, this is excellent news for local economies, cities and counties all across the State. A recent survey by Sacramento State University revealed that visitors to State parks spend $4.3 billion in “park related expenditures” in communities around State parks. That money generates $300 million in sales tax revenue to state government. This shows that parks are a significant economic engine for local communities all across the State employing thousands of people who provide goods and services to visitors.

• Even with this good news, the California Department of Parks and Recreation will continue to actively seek (financial) partners in an effort to help support park operations, programs and keep the parks open. This remains needed, because the future remains uncertain and all efforts for producing public-private partnerships will help support California’s important visitor and tourism industry.

• We encourage visitors to make plans to enjoy California’s magnificent parks. It is a system of 279 parks that range from the forests of the tallest trees in the world along the North Coast, to the wilderness expanses of the major deserts of the inland areas of Southern California. In addition, there are 50 State Historic Parks that tell the story of California’s colorful past. There is literally something for everyone in California; places as stunning and diverse as the most famous tourism destination found anywhere in the world.

• For more information consumer can visit www.parks.ca.gov or call 1-800-777-0369 or (916) 653-6995. 

• Media inquiries should be directed to (916) 654-7538.
   

• Over 76 million people – including locals and out-of-state visitors – visited California state parks at last tally (FY 05-06) (California State Parks). 

• There were over $80 million in concessions and user fees collected from state parks in 2004-2005 (California State Parks). 

• 5% of domestic stays in California include a visit to a state or national park, which equates to about 17 million visits in 2008 (DK Shifflet & Assoc.). 

• Leisure travelers from out-of-state origins visited state or national parks in California at nearly double the proportion of in-state visitors – 9% vs. 5% (in 2007) (DK Shifflet & Assoc.). 

• According to the U.S. Travel Association, half of national/state park leisure trips include lodging in hotels, motels, or bed & breakfast establishments (TIA 2004). 

• Households taking national/state park leisure trips spend more than the average spending for U.S. leisure trips (TIA 2004). 

• 56% of visitors to state Web sites go there to find information on state parks, making it one of the most popular uses of these sites (Texas A&M Tourvey). 

• Visiting parks is also very important to international travelers: 30% of overseas visitors to California in 2007 reported visiting a national park, 27% reported “touring the countryside” and 24% reported visiting a cultural heritage site (U.S. Department of Commerce).