Save Candlestick State Recreation Area

We, the undersigned, oppose the proposed closure of Candlestick Point State Recreation Area in Governor Schwarzeneggers 2008-09 FY budget and urge the state legislature to do the same. The governors budget cuts will jeopardize the multi-year remediation and wetland restoration at Candlestick Point, the youth-run native plant nursery and garden at the Ranger Station, and community enjoyment of this shoreline park.

With Candlestick residing in a part of San Francisco that has suffered from decades of harm from pollution, neglect, and poverty, this shoreline park offers irreplaceable benefits to public and environmental health, community education, and recreation. Not only should this park not be closed, but additional funding should be allocated towards fulfilling the Parks unrealized General Plan that was approved in 1987 after much community participation.

We also urge Assemblyman Mark Leno, State Senator Carole Migden and the entire California State Legislature to sign the Save Our State Parks pledge.

Visit www.calparks.org for more information about the proposed closure of 48 state parks.

WHEREAS, Candlestick State Park is a valuable environmental and recreational community resource serving all of California and the Bayview-Hunters Point high-need community;

WHEREAS, Southeast San Francisco has insufficient access to open space and coastal resources, and Candlestick State Recreation Area offers one of the few places where San Francisco families can enjoy the bay's shoreline;

WHEREAS, The Candlestick State Recreation Area is San Franciscos only state park and was Californias first urban state park;

WHEREAS, Annually, over 120,000 visitors take advantage of the myriad low-cost opportunities for recreation, education, fitness and other outdoor pursuits in Candlestick State Recreation Area;

WHEREAS, The BayviewHunters Point neighborhood has suffered decades of harm from pollution, neglect and poverty, and this shoreline park offers irreplaceable benefits to public and environmental health, community education and recreation;

WHEREAS, Candlestick Point State Recreation Area generates more than $650,000 annually in revenue benefiting the entire State Park System;

WHEREAS, The California State Parks Foundation has raised over $14 million for the wetland restoration of the largest contiguous wetland in the city and county of San Francisco, Yosemite Slough located at the northern end of the park;

WHEREAS, Closing the Candlestick State Recreation Area could jeopardize the restoration of Yosemite Slough and deprive future generations of an important piece of San Francisco natural history;

WHEREAS, State parks are an important economic engine to the local communities in which they are located and studies have shown that every $1 invested in the state park system returns $2.35 to the states General Fund, largely in the form of economic activity in local economies;

WHEREAS, The Governors 2008-09 State Budget proposes an unprecedented closing of 48 state parks and drastic lifeguard reductions on 16 popular state beaches;

WHEREAS, Such a proposal creates considerable harm for the local community businesses that rely on tourism from Candlestick State Recreation Area;

WHEREAS, Closing Candlestick State Recreation will reduce revenues for local businesses and will result in overall losses in local fees and taxes, thereby eroding financial savings envisioned by the closures;

WHEREAS, the many economic, environmental and health benefits of Candlestick State Recreation Area are so significant, the State should provide additional funding beyond the current annual budget in order to fund the unrealized General Plan that was approved in 1987 after much community participation;

WHEREAS, Closure of Candlestick State Park will jeopardize Californians access to treasures that were specifically set aside to be experienced by the public;

WHEREAS, The funding required to keep state parks open and restore lifeguards on state beaches represents a mere fraction (0.00006 percent) of the entire budget proposed by the Governor;

Therefore, we the undersigned urge Assemblyman Mark Leno, State Senator Carole Migden and the entire California State Legislature to oppose the closure of Candlestick State Park and sign on to the Save Candlestick State Recreation Area campaign and the Save Our State Parks campaign.