Regular readers know I’ve given a voice to the plight of California State Parks since June of 2009.  Well, as with everything else in the state budget, things are getting progressively worse and 70 state parks are budgeted to close.  That’s almost a quarter of California State Parks — and it’s happening RIGHT NOW through 2012. It’s a really complex issue – and so I asked Christopher Grant Ward of Folk4Parks.org to join forces with me over the summer.

Our deal: He creates videos and I share.
(Personal note: Thanks, Christopher, for taking on the lion’s share and creating some videos to give voice to those who aren’t always heard.) 

We’ve both dedicated tons of our free time over the past two months to getting the message out and, still, there are those who don’t even know the parks are closing.  Please feel free to spread the word and share Christopher’s amazing videos through your social channels.  His new video is my absolute favorite:

The Value of California State Parks, in ONE Word

Happenings since August:

• Governor Brown signed AB 42 (“AB 42 is an important tool that allows the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to enter into operating agreements with nonprofits to operate state parks.” (CA State Parks Foundation)
• California State Parks Foundation started 2 new websites: The Magnificent 70 and CalParks Voices Blog.
• The National Park Service stepped in to save parks in Northern California
• A private donor stepped forward to preserve Henry Coe State Park
• Christopher started a fundraising effort by offering a new California State Parks Poster series. Read about it HERE.

Video Documentary:

• VIDEO TRAILER -  Save the 70: The 2011 State Parks Documentary (Less than 2 minutes)
• VIDEO PART 1 – What Does it Mean to Close a State Park?  (Less than 5 minutes)
• VIDEO PART 2 – What Makes a Park Significant? (Less than 4 minutes)
• VIDEO PART 3 – The Value of California State Parks in ONE Word (3 minutes)

More videos from Folk4Parks.org:

• VIDEO – CA State Park Closures: Our Public Legacy (8 minutes)
• VIDEO – CA State Park Employees Need Your Support (1 minute)

Some visuals:

• VISUAL – 3 Money Myths About CA State Parks
• VISUAL – Awareness Is Advocacy

Every time I visit Oak Creek Park in Irvine, the playground is bustling with one mom’s group or another.  I had to hit it early in the morning to grab photos without kids, but the South Irvine Stroller Strides was gearing up for their morning workout.  It’s about a block away from Valley Oak Park (across Barranca).  I thought it was only a soccer field, but there’s a playground!

Directions to Oak Creek Park in Irvine:  Easy to find from Interstate 405 and 5. From 405, exit Sand Canyon and go inland. Turn left on Barranca and take an immediate right on Valley Oak Drive. Turn right into the parking lot. If you are coming from the 5, head toward the 405 and turn right on Barranca. Then take the right onto Valley Oak Drive. It’s basically at the corner of Barranca and Sand Canyon. (Address: 15616 Valley Oak, Irvine) MAP TO OAK CREEK COMMUNITY PARK IN IRVINE

Highlights:

• There’s lots of space to RUN and get the wiggles out
• There are usually other moms and kids playing here – so it’s great for socializing
• I love the rolling grassy hills for playing under the sycamore trees
• Some shade on the playground
• Big kid and little kid equipment is close to each other
• The restroom and parking is close to the playground
• Bring a ball to kick around on the field or a frisbee
• 2 bench swings, 2 baby swings

Be Aware:

• I’m always a little uneasy about the people who sit parked in their cars away from the playground. I think it’s just a central and scenic spot in Irvine where people take lunch breaks or meet up with one other — just keep your eyes open and be aware.
• Could be busy on weekends during soccer season.
• The parking lot is nearby, but the kids don’t seem to wander there too much.

Checklist:

• Parking in dedicated lot
• Play surface: Recycled rubber and sand under swings
• Restrooms near the playground
• Nice, covered picnic area
• Benches at the park
• Baseball/softball diamond
• Soccer fields
• Official City of Irvine website
• Nearest library branch: Irvine Heritage Park or Irvine University Park

Nearby parks:

• Valley Oak Park
• Quail Hill Loop Trail (hike/nature walk)
• Heritage Park in Irvine
• Orchard Park in Irvine

I discovered Valley Oak Park in Irvine while searching for a good place to meet up with grandparents. It’s an ideal choice because of the level walking surface from the dedicated parking lot to the playground – and plenty of benches (not to mention, the proximity to the 405 freeway).

Directions to Valley Oak Park in Irvine: Easy to find from Interstate 405 and 5. From 405, exit Sand Canyon and go toward mountains. Turn left on Alton and take an immediate right on Valley Oak Drive. Turn left into the parking lot before you hit Barranca Parkway. If you are coming from the 5, head toward the 405 and turn right on Barranca. Then take the left onto Valley Oak Drive. MAP to Valley Oak Park in Irvine

Highlights:

• All-in-one kind of park complete with a grassy area, basketball court, play structures for all ages, sandbox, tennis courts, swings
• Excellent picnic area with grills – great place to bring lunch
• Even the recycled rubber play surface is decorated with oak leaves and acorns
• Hopscotch
• Very compact so it’s easy to see the kids everywhere
• I love meeting people here because it’s easy to find
• A variety of slides and crawl-through tunnels
• Good for both little kids and big kids (bring a basketball or soccer ball)
• Restroom and drinking fountain very near the playground

Be Aware:

• Can’t really think of anything to “Be Aware” of at Valley Oak. Except, I have seen the parking lot fill up.

Checklist:

• Parking in dedicated lot (maybe 10-15 spots)
• Recycled rubber and sand play surface
• Very nice restrooms and drinking fountain near the playground
• Shade under patio cover
• Easy to view kids
• Full basketball court
• Official City of Irvine website
• Nearest library branch: Irvine Heritage Park or Irvine University Park

Nearby parks:

• Quail Hill Loop Trail (hike/nature walk)
• Heritage Park in Irvine
• Orchard Park in Irvine

People are talking . . . using their voices to fight for keeping California State Parks open.

McGrath State Beach in Ventura/Oxnard

The volunteer hours put in to save this place are astounding! It seems essential to have one leader for the cause to focus all efforts on key actions — right at the optimum time.  For example, at different times the administrator of the Save McGrath State Beach page on Facebook has asked for followers to: vote for the park in a national contest, contact the media, write letters to the County Board of Supervisors, or to city government.

Telling a personal story and linking it to records of real money brought to the local economy from this State Park seems to be convincing the government to take a more active role in keeping it open. Local governments understand that putting in a little bit of $ to keep the parks open actually reaps benefits for the surrounding businesses, as well as the city.  Follow the Save McGrath State Beach page to see a case study of a successful fight being waged on behalf of a treasured park.

California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) launches a blog and a new website

CSPF is the non-profit leader and our “Voice for the Parks” in California. If you love our parks and are not already a member, I highly recommended joining and signing up for their email newsletter. I’m a Frequent Visitor member which includes an annual parking pass. Heck! Give memberships as gifts to family and friends.  I’m a huge fan of their new blog called CalParks Voices blog where they keep readers updated in short, timely bit-size pieces.

The Magnificent 70 website is a pictorial wonder of each of the parks on the closure list.  See the parks. Read their story. Then get involved with the nonprofit associated with that park. Follow CalParks on Facebook, too.

Folk4Parks.org shares new park documentary videos and presents on “Our Public Legacy”

I consider myself an accidental park advocate (I’m talking because I’m so panicked about losing our parks to nonsensical closures). Christopher Grant Ward is very deliberate in his advocacy. His nonprofit, website and blog are “dedicated to the preservation of open spaces in California and around the world.”  You can see all his park videos on his YouTube Channel and read his blog at Folk4Parks.org.

Christopher has also just introduced a State Parks Poster Collector Series with opportunities to donate directly to a nonprofit supporting a CA State Park.

AB42 is on Governor Brown’s Desk

“AB 42 is an important tool that allows the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to enter into operating agreements with nonprofits to operate state parks.”  It doesn’t solve the funding problem for all parks, but it will help prevent closures at least at some parks. Please show your support and encourage the Governor to sign AB42.  It took me 5 minutes to follow the links and sign the petition.

3 Things You Can Do to Help:

• Follow the directions in this CalParks blog and ask the Governor to sign AB42.
• Join the California State Parks Foundation and visit your parks.
• Stay updated on all the news on this topic and share it. Please! SHARE. (It’s helped! The LA Times just ran a story over the weekend: “State Parks Crisis: Closing the gates to Eden to save money“)

Concourse Park is in the Portola Hills neighborhood of Lake Forest. I never knew how to get to those “houses on the hill” on the way up El Toro Road towards Santiago Canyon and O’Neill Regional Park. You notice the homes up to the left and I always think about what a great view they must enjoy. The park is in a beautiful setting so close to Whiting Ranch and the Santa Ana Mountains.  It was renovated over Summer 2011 to include more shade, plus a new sand and water play area.

Location: Take El Toro Road waaaaayyyyyy up to just before Cook’s Corner and the turn onto Live Oak Canyon Road. Turn left onto Ridgeline. Turn left on Saddleback Ranch Road. You’ll pass the community pool and the playground is just ahead on the right. (Address: 18931 Saddleback Ranch Road, Lake Forest)  MAP TO CONCOURSE PARK IN PORTOLA HILLS

Highlights:

• It feels like a great wide open space with lots of nearby nature from Whiting Ranch. I saw lots of birds on my visit.
• There’s a fire access trail near the park that takes you down the hill for a mini-nature walk before opening into the wide expanses of Whiting Ranch.
• The playground is very near the parking lot with the toddler version in front and the bigger kid structure behind.
• The toddler playground is just the right size for little ones. There are also 2 baby swings and ride-on spring toys here.
• There used to be a grassy hill in between the play structures which was a perfect place to hang out. With the renovation, they flattened the hill and made it into a bunch of planters for large sycamore trees for lots of shade when they mature.
• The big kid playground has more opportunities for climbing and monkey bars. There are 2 bench swings and one tire swing.
• With the renovation comes an expanded climbing area and a dedicated sand play area with a water feature. The water play feature looks like a desert palace.
• A restroom was also added during the renovation (although it’s not open yet — just a portable toilet).
• There is one picnic shelter near the playground for shade cover during lunch. A second shelter sits with a view overlooking Whiting Ranch.
• There’s also half court basketball and a winding sidewalk which people were using for their morning walks with/without kids.

Be Aware:

• This backs up to quite a bit of open space, so just be aware of your surroundings and watch for rattlesnakes. Mountain lions and coyotes are a concern if you have very small children, but just make sure you are nearby your child and not letting them run ahead. I spoke to the moms at the park and most had never had encounters with ANY of these animals. (I think there’s too much action here during daylight hours.)
• The playground can be hot during the summer, but the added shade covers give some relief.
• Bring a change of clothes – and maybe a change of shoes! My daughter had a blast playing in the water and with the sand, but got filthy!

Checklist:

• Dedicated parking lot
• Bark play surface
• New restrooms (not open yet – portable restrooms available)
• 2 covered picnic areas with grills
• Drinking fountain near picnic shelter
• Half court basketball
• Walking path/sidewalk winding through park
• Access to Whiting Ranch from fire access road
• City of Lake Forest website
• Nearest public library branch: Foothill Ranch Public Library

Nearby parks:

• Foothill Ranch Community Park
• Borrego Park