It’s Time to Cut Park Fees

Times were tough during the early 1990s; the recession sent state revenues plummeting, and the governor and Legislature scrabbled for every penny to offset $14 billion in red ink. Among the most regrettable of the decisions made then was an increase in state park fees, making them $5 to $6.50 for day use and as much as $37.50 a night for campground stay-overs. It’s well beyond time that these levies be cut back to reasonable levels.

The good news is that Gov. Gray Davis is apparently considering rolling back most day use fees in the 265 state park units to $2, the level of the early 1980s, and the overnight camping charge to $12. This could make a real difference for low-income Californians and would certainly encourage repeat visits to parks, recreation areas and historic sites. Whatever Davis decides probably will show up in his scheduled budget update May 15.

Davis will have the support of Chairwoman Denise Ducheny (D-San Diego) of the Assembly Budget Committee. She earmarked more than $40 million in the Assembly budget for park fee cuts last year, but the money was deleted before the final budget was adopted. Fees account for about $56 million of the $251-million annual budget of the state Department of Parks and Recreation. Ducheny is sponsoring a bill, AB 2333, that would eliminate the day use fee altogether, but she is also expected to push for fee cuts within the budget bill again this year.

Increased use would certainly boost the cost of maintenance, security and visitor services, but the fees were never more than a fraction of the department budget. Budget surpluses and a big parks bond issue passed by voters in March should provide ample funding for both maintenance and a general renewal of worn and shabby state park facilities.

California’s huge state park system--from San Diego’s Old Town in the south to the Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park more than 700 miles to the north--was once one of the nation’s best. Better maintenance and lower visitor fees would, together, help restore the parks’ luster.