3 Northern California state parks get reprieve from shutdown

Three California State Parks of the 70 slated to be closed next year because of the state’s budget crisis have been given a reprieve for at least a year. The National Park Service has agreed to step in and operate these state parklands that fall within national boundaries:

--Tomales Bay State Park in Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area;

--Samuel P. Taylor State Park in Golden Gate National Recreation Area;

--Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park within Redwood National Park, near Crescent City.

That’s good news for park visitors who will continue to be able to visit day-use areas and reserve campgrounds, which open for the season roughly from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Earlier this month, California State Parks officials issued a statement saying that the one-year operating agreement is on “a trial basis and renewable” as long as both parties agree. And while NPS will oversee day-to-day operations, no federal funds would be available for long-term projects such as maintenance and infrastructure repairs.

The shutdown of 70 of the state’s 278 parks was announced in May as part of the state’s 2011-12 budget. In Southern California, parklands at the Salton Sea, Palomar Mountain, Fort Tejon and others are slated to close starting in 2012.