I grew up camping in a lot of the parks he wants to close. Most have nominal fees and are staffed by voluntiers. We had a huge economy and within 6 years it's dead. I had to leave the country to find a teaching job, kept getting offered ones and then they would downsize. Several of the parks are really small and it would be so sad to see them go.

I have to agree selling off public land is not the answer. Cali should try firing their elected officials and cutting the salaries of the rest. Make them work for the same wage as the average American.

Stovepipe. so you're saying that CA has already taken the path that Obama is now leading the whole country down?

You're catchin' on there Pumpkinslinger...

Yeah he is...

Vince wrote:

owned them in the first place...the citizens of the State/Country. So mate....no...definitely do not allow ownership to pass to private enterprise. By all means contract the management of these lands to private enterprise, but do not sell them. Cheers, Vince

Howdy Vince. Stipulations on private transfer of public lands is often incorporated into the transfer and could be in regard to all NPS and State Parks. Stipulations can also be part of any management agreement and I believe your proposal has merit and is far more practical than mine.

The issue of defining those stipulations is the crux of a viable program. The NPS awards concessionaires operating privileges within the national system at this time. The contracting rules and regs are overseen by NPS specialists that have no business background and little in resource management. That concessionaires perform as well as they are is amazing given the multi layered challenges imposed upon them.

But, yes. I would be pleased with a total resource management contract of NPS and State parks, sites, recreation areas to private enterprise, depending on the specifics of regulations and safeguards. It would save considerable money and yield a far more visitor friendly experience.

Here's the list.... it's pretty dirsturbing to think what this will do to the local economies that rely on them. Not to mention several thousand employees getting axe.

www.calparks.org/takea...-match.pdf

I gaurantee once they close opening them will be akin to squeezing blood from a turnip. And- you can't use them once closed or you are going to jail for trespassing. And- you can bet the land developers are just chomping and the bit for a nice bidding war on un-protected lands.

I've seen it before in many places here....many hunting spots are now too close to, or have been devoloped into, housing tracts. But the uber-libs will tell you otherwise, from a fancy home on a once pristine hillside I used to traverse on a game-trail.

I frequent a few up north for surfing and general decompressing. Also a couple close to me for mtn biking and such too.

Not anymore. This State has lost it's shirt, pants and shoes and I really don't see any saving it now that it's literally all gone to the dogs.

Meanwhile our President is sending billions to Mexico, Pakistan, etc for guns, housing, schools, roads and bridges. He promised those funds for our infrastructure and as a Prioirty One.

Yeh, right.

Our President is more interested in making a name for himself in the muslin world, and of course our guns. Remember all the promises about bringing our troops home during the election campaign.