Ventura County May Close or Sell 7 Parks

Citing an annual deficit of $450,000, Ventura County’s chief executive has proposed closing, selling or leasing seven county-owned parks as a long-term solution to a severe drain on the budget.

Chief Administrative Officer Lin Koester’s preliminary $956-million spending plan for fiscal 1999-2000 does not include funding to operate and maintain the county’s 27 parks.

The parks department’s request for $457,000 was highlighted in the new budget plan as a crucial issue worthy of special consideration by the Board of Supervisors. The department is designed to be self-sustaining.

“We’re looking at selling, leasing or closing some parks as a possible alternative,” Bert Bigler, chief deputy administrative officer, said Monday. “It really depends upon how they do in terms of generating additional revenue. If they do well, it may not be needed.”

But so far, attempting to generate more money from parks has been a lesson in futility.