OPEN PARKS COALITION MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
From Friends of China Camp State Park
Friends of China Camp,
We want to thank all of our members who attended the Marin Open Parks Coalition Meeting hosted by Assemblymember Jared Huffman and Dr. Thomas Peters of the Marin Community Foundation. Most gratifying, besides the fact that about 100 concerned private citizens took the time to be there, was seeing the leadership of all our major public land management agencies actively collaborating and planning for the protection of all of state parks in Marin.
While there were various big-picture potential park funding solutions (2012 ballot measure, regional vehicle fees, tax return donation boxes, county-wide park passes, etc.) presented, it was great to hear that these leaders at the federal, state, and county levels are working on specific solutions to the challenges of both protecting and providing revenue for China Camp State Park. While those of us at FOCC have mainly focused on "grassroots" outreach and awareness of potential park closures, it is certainly refreshing to see the people with the power, the resources, and the responsibility to protect all of these parks addressing the current challenge of enabling these parks to thrive.
Here are a few of the highlights of the meeting that pertain to specifically keeping China Camp open:
Budget Scenarios
Danita Rodriguez, our Marin District Director of California State Parks, presented the following budgetary figures for keeping China Camp open:
Minimum coverage - 5 days per week: $355,000, which would provide 1 peace officer ranger, 1 maintenance staff, seasonal employee time, and operating expenses (water, trash, etc.)
AND
Better scenario - 7 days per week with more services: $595,000, which would provide 2 peace officer rangers, 2 maintenance staff, seasonal employee time, and operating expenses
-Danita has been participating in ongoing discussions with Marin County Parks Director & General Manager Linda Dahl on finding ways for the state and county parks personnel to mutually support one another in such a way that China Camp can remain operational.
County Road Parking Fees/Mountain Biking Fees
Louise Kanter Lipsey, one of the founders of China Camp State Park and FOCC member, brought up the often discussed topic of finding a way to charge for parking on the county road that runs through our park so that we may capture the revenue of the majority of our trail users, many of whom are mountain bikers. Finding an enforceable way to collect parking fees on the road, especially near trailheads, is definitely on the "radar screen" of County and State Park leadership.
It is generally acknowledged that a part of the solution to charging for road parking should involve the opportunity to purchase some sort of annual, semi-annual, and/or monthly parking pass/permit for people who regularly use the park. Similarly, the idea of creating annual or semi-annual passes strictly for mountain bikers, regardless of where they access the trails, is also "on the table," and, if the alternative is a "closed" park or unmaintained trails, actually appears heavily favored by members of the mountain biking community.
Bethanie Gilbert, a China Camp Ranger Station volunteer and FOCC member, made the comment that the decision by the state and/or county to implement any additional parking fees needs to take into account the interests of many of the low-income citizens who regularly use the park. Perhaps, in a way similar to public schools use parents/caregivers' tax returns to determine lunch subsidies, organizations such as the Canal Alliance and/or MCF could provide the service of administering in a controlled way the issuance of subsidized passes to those who would qualify.
How can people contribute now?
At the end of the meeting, the question was brought up of how people can contribute right now to help a specific park, in our case, China Camp.
It was mentioned that people can contribute to the California State Parks Foundation, and when doing so, specify that your contribution would go to China Camp. However, it was not completely clear that, in the end, that is where your money would actually go.
A more "sure bet" is making a contribution to the Marin District of the State Parks, again specifying that your contribution goes to the contingency fund for China Camp. The address is :
Marin District, California Parks and Recreation
845 Casa Grande Road
Petaluma, CA 94954-5804
(707) 769-5665
Finally the MOST "sure bet" for your money to be put to use at a particular park, as mentioned at the meeting by leaders from Sonoma County state parks who are facing the same challenges as we are, is making a contribution to a park's cooperating association, which is us, Friends of China Camp. All donations to FOCC go for educational and, interpretive activities, and, as we face the current crisis, sometimes operational expenses, right here at China Camp.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Marin Open Parks Coalition meeting or any of the issues that were discussed, please feel free to send an email to this address. Again, Friends of China Camp is very excited by the positive energy and concrete ideas, from both private citizens as well as Marin's political and land management leaders, that are being brought to the challenge of keeping our park, and all Marin state parks, open and thriving.
Trail Advisory
Please be advised that the porta-johns in the parking lot of Miwok Meadows are currently closed. Thus, if you use the trails in the northern end of the park during the middle of the week, be advised that it appears there are no available open restrooms. Please, and tell your friends who use the park, do NOT use our trails, uplands, or marshes as toilets. On the weekends, the bathrooms at the campground are available; we will try to learn more about Miwok Meadows this coming weekend. Thank you.
For more information, email Friends of China Camp.