California State Parks Foundation

As a board member for Placer County Dry Creek Conservancy, we are always seeking out support for preserving both our historical sites and watersheds.
One location that begs to be preserved is the Transcontinental rail tunnels near Donner Pass. We need to remind everyone of the dedication and hard work of our Chinese rail workers.

Let the homeless camp there and have them clean the parks for the privilege !
Solves two problems. A win win for everyone !

We take every opportunity to visit our California State Parks. We travel a lot in our 1931 Model A Ford and plan our routes to include as many historic and scenic sites as time will allow. We have seen first hand what happens when funding falls short to run and maintain these parks. There are many places that would not be open or in existence, if not for the California State Parks Foundation.

We are lucky enough to live near some of California's most beautiful state parks. Just yesterday we stopped by Pt Lobos State Reserve to walk the forested trails and watch sea otters tumble in the emerald-colored water at Whaler's cove. Two weeks ago we camped at DL Bliss State Park at Lake Tahoe--an annual family-centered trip. And last month, my daughter and nephew spent a week at the Monterey State Historic Park adobes. While dressed in period costumes, they made tortillas, braided rope, branded leather and learned songs, games and dances from the early California period. These experiences enrich us and provide a much-needed respite from our highly structured, screen-focused lives. Site improvements & restoration, educational programs, and simple access to our state parks would not be possible without the California State Parks Foundation. The work of this nonprofit is more important than ever.

CSPF provides such important support for our state parks. They keep a vigilant watch, inspire and enlist volunteers, and advocate for our glistening gem of a park system.

Hello,
First off; this is the first time reading online about California State Parks Foundation. I received a donation request via USPS mail. I was extremely interested in making a donation. My husband requested before I send any money, to check and see exactly what percentage is used for the state parks. I found Charity Navigator rating just by luck. Still not sure what percentage my donation is actually used for the parks. My concern was after reading 2011 fiscal report, $10,179,097 was collected from donations. The President Elizabeth Goldstein's compensation/pay was $169,469 for 2011. Call me crazy, WOW I'd like that (NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION) job. I WOULD like someone to explain to me the basics. I realize no one works for free. But seriously.... $170,000 for what. Im not minimizing the job. Im just saying!!! If this non profit organization is really wanting to help California's State Parks, MAYBE admin shouldnt take so much off the top. NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION's mean lots & lots of money for the administrators. What happened to simple; I make donation of $100 and $95 actually goes towards the cause. I think that somehow along the way we have lost the ideal..... non profit organizations were established to help. Somehow the person/persons running the organizations are making more money then the actual cause. How sad...

California State Parks Foundation is destroying cities throughout California, they are backed by SCE, utilities companies and regulators ... look at what they say below, do not support them! Read all the details here: http://www.calparks.org/programs/policy/chino-hills-trtp-project.html Wayne Mass · Chino Hills, California
Well I thank you for actually responding to us. However to call the easement through Chino Hills VALID route is insulting. No person in their right mind who has seen these dangerous 200ft towers next to homes,parks and schools would ever classify them as such. I would like you to also consider who uses the Chino Hills State Park! Chino Hills residents do and not one person I have ever spoken to sees an issue with replacing existing power lines in an already existing right of way. So that leaves the last issue. Your foundations fear that this will somehow set a presidence to install power lines though State Parks. Frankly I don't buy it. Power lines and towers are already there. Has your organization lobbied in the past to remove those....answer...NO. So again your motivation comes into question. When we see the huge donations to your foundation from SCE it just supports our belief that you have been bought.
Reply · 23 · Unlike · Follow Post · January 26 at 6:06pm

Jan Palmer
Ah, but I disagree with you, CSPF! When people bought their homes along the SCE easement, the poles were about 75' tall and inactive for app. 4 decades and NOBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND would ever have thought that giant 200' TRANSMISSION poles would be erected in that narrow 150' easement! Green energy and wind turbines were not even in our lexicon. Your statment leads people to think we were fully informed about what was to come. Some have owned their homes for 30 years. Isn't there already a right-of-way in the park with electric poles? And I doubt the numbers of people that visit CHSP today is the same as before the 3-day a week closure. And visitors to a park are not subjected to the health and danger concerns that residents will be exposed to 24/7/12. You are purposely tweeking and putting out misinformation. Shame on Edison and Shame on CSPF!
Reply · 19 · Like · Follow Post · January 26 at 4:55pm

Debbie Dean
Every time the CSPF makes a statement about the annual number of visitors to the Chino Hills State Park the total increases. This is something we've come to expect from SCE but not you! Not just here in Chino Hills, SCE also has a "valid right of way" in the State Park and it contains SCE transmission towers and lines. I could agree with your concerns about setting a precedent if NO towers existed in Chino Hills State Park. Likewise can you imagine the precedent that would be set if public utility companies were allowed to run 500kv 45 ft from homes anywhere and any time they want, all over the country?
The Charitable Donations you receive from SCE have created a conflict of interest. Facing the possibility of losing that support, should you contradict SCE's favored route, surely influences your opinions.
Reply · 13 · Like · Follow Post · January 26 at 8:39pm

California State Parks Foundation
Alternative 4CM would replace some lines along the existing easements, but it would also create at least two entirely new paths in biologically- and visually-sensitive areas of the park where no easements currently exist.
Reply · Like · January 30 at 4:46pm

Chrisanne Goodwin
Hey what about me? I don't live anywhere NEAR the easement. No one ever informed me I would be looking at this 265ft Lattice Monster out of my kitchen window, bedroom window and backyard and out of my dining room window a 200 ft Monster Power Pole! They are SOOOO HUGE they impact MY quality of life and I live in CARBON CANYON no where NEAR the easement SO PLEASE do NOT use the easement as an arguement! This is a COMMUNITY ISSUE not about the unfortunate people who were LIED to by SCE when they purchased their homes (yes, believe it or not we used to believe and trust the company...now we know better!) who were told when they bought the homes those poles were INACTIVE! By the way, reduce the number of visitors to your park you 99,999 because I WILL not be going any more. Your issue for "parks only" is upsetting to me. If you do not care about the very people who are YOUR biggest supporters of CHINO HILLS State Park then I don't feel welcome.
Reply · 12 · Like · Follow Post · January 27 at 10:08am

Ruth Dickie
CSPF~You should join us instead of fighting us! Why don't you support the idea of burying the lines under the state parks in CA? In Chino Hills State Park the easement is already there---bury the lines--yes, the terrain is hilly but the digging can be level, it seems to me. It could be a win-win situation. With new technology the emf on four-legged creatures is greatly reduced. It doesn't seem to me that you care about that at all~nor do you really care about the people using the park or you wouldn't have let the easement be built there in the first place. All you really care about is the money that it brings into your dept. You and SCE have a lot in common!
Reply · 12 · Like · Follow Post · January 26 at 7:48pm

Gregg Fresonke · Vice President Marketing and Sales at Hollywood Ribbon Industries
WHY IS YOUR N-P AGENCY LOOKING TO HIT TAX PAYERS UP VIA THE CPUC FOR $44,000 TO COVER LAWYER COSTS TO FIGHT THE PEOPLE LIVING IN CHINO HILLS? ARE YOU SUPPORTING SCE BECAUSE THEY GIVE YOU CHARITABLE DONATIONS? WHY SHOULD SOMEONE SITTING IN AN OFFICE IN SAN FRANCISCO HAVE THE POMPOUS ATTITUDE OF DETERMINING WHAT SHOULD BE DONE IN THE PARK WE ARE USING? IF YOU HAD ANY UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEM YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IS JUST BEING MOVED... THE SAME PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. YOU COME ACROSS AS A BUNCH OF SLEAZE-BALL LAWYERS SQUEEZING MONEY FROM TAX PAYERS TO FUND YOUR IDEALISTIC IDEAS.
Reply · 9 · Like · Follow Post · January 26 at 6:11pm

California State Parks Foundation
Any compensation for legal fees granted to organizations in a proceeding like this is always paid by the applicable utility company in the proceeding. No state and/or taxpayer funding is involved.
Reply · Like · January 30 at 4:48pm

I visit Topanga State park regularly. I was very impressed to learn about CA State Parks Foundation and the important work they do to support our natural beauty found in the parks. This well organized, positive, pro-active group was so good at motivating people to Save the Parks during the last/recent budget crisis. I attended a town meeting they helped organize where local officials, park employees, volunteers, and the public shared information and encouragement. It was very well done!

I've volunteered with the California State Parks Foundation for Earth Day, and attended 3 of their Park Advocacy Days in Sacramento. The Foundation really knows how to get citizens active in and advocating for parks. Every event has been extremely well-organized. I left feeling like I was having a real impact in really important work and learned quite a bit along the way. Not only are these guys efficient and knowledgable, but they are just fantastic people to work along side of. I really believe that it is their work that has kept our parks as great as they are. I look forward to being a part of these activities next year.

I have worked with the fine people of the CSPF on more than one occasion. Each time they were professional, kind,and very helpful. I wish all non-profits were run like this one.

I have been to many events and also volunteered in park cleanups, functions, etc. The enthusiasm and dedication of the staff in furthering the integrity of the parks is unsurpassed. With funding cutbacks I'm sure the staff and donors alike will rise to the occasion! This is an outstanding organization.

I use the state parks several times a week to get out in nature, enjoy the trees, the fresh air, the wildlife, and activities such as hiking and running. They are a critical resource to the health of our people and our planet. We must preserve and maintain our open spaces. At a time when drug dealing and other criminal activity is increasing in our state parks, we cannot afford to be cutting back or closing them! These are the dangers that lead to fires, and worse. The state parks need our support now more than ever. The California State Parks Foundation is doing an excellent job of educating people about the value of our parks system, and helping to fight the cutbacks the system is facing.

The State Parks Foundation is paying attention to the political and budgetary actions that affect the future of the parks. They do a great job of keeping their membership current on this information. They also are doing a great job of educating people about various parks, so that people can feel a sense of ownership and stewardship towards these beautiful areas.

Now that my son is 8yrs old, he is learning to love camping. We look forward to taking him to our California State Parks. We encourage him to help keep them clean. I want this to be a continued tradition and am afraid that we will not be able to do this with all the State Parks closing.

I enjoy using California State Parks and I am grateful for anyone and everyone who works to allow me to visit the beautiful places in our state; to keep them clean; to keep them safe; but most importantly...to KEEP them!

My first outing when I came to CA 35 years ago was to a state park; I find you can tell a lot about a place by how the parks integrate and support the rest of the community. Now at 60 I loo back having grown my kids camping weekends, hikes, and these include many holidays.. and am so grateful for this resource. I daily visit a locak park to walk and when the world is stressful, find peace and hope in the parks; the staff I have encountered are helpful and informative and inspiring. Is more than places to go, our parks are a place of possibility.. I now find myself reading and taking classes so I can become more knowledgable and a GOAL is to docent when I retire in 2 years.. With the mess this state has gotten into-- the PARKS are something we can TRULY be PROUD of and to which are attracted folks from all over the world! Preserve, Enrich, Cherish, and Support these unique resources.

I have spent countless hours camping, backpacking, hiking and playing in the State Parks. I couldn't even fathom not being able to go out to one of our wonder State Parks to explore the natural beauty, learn a bit about our history and get enjoy some peace and quiet. I know my world would be a lot more unbearable without the State Parks and I'm sure many others agree.

The Cal State Parks are some of the cleanest and prettiest parks around. We want to keep the parks open FREE for everyone to enjoy.

We use the State Parks of California many times throughout the year, and most recently was 2 days ago at San Onofre State Beach in San Clemente. The staff is always helpful, competent, polite and informed. The parks are always well-maintained and free of trash and troublesome elements. The State Parks serve as an indispensable and invaluable resource for our family when we wish to 'get away from it all.'

I work at a vacation rental company and we have fantastic state parks in our area. Every time someone asks me what to do or where to go on their vacation I direct them to these parks. And every time guests reply that they were so impressed with the parks, their kids saw something new, they experienced nature, hiked, biked, walked and observed in ways that make this a favorite vacation memory! I'm dis-heartened that our closest state parks have reduced access, hours, and so on as a result of budget woes. Some of the most memorable places for guests are now harder to get to or unavailable. I want to show off our state's best spots not have them fall into disrepair... I know the CSPF needs as much support as possible to keep these fantastic place available to locals and tourists a like!

Californians own an amazing and unique State Park system. AND, I think all of California should be grateful to the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) for their tireless efforts to repair, improve, and SAVE our State Parks. Through their constant communication via traditional and electronic media, CSPF has kept us informed of potential budget threats and the many ways we as individual Californians can volunteer to help keep our Parks healthy. Through Facebook, Twitter, their beautifully produced newsletter

As a member of CSPF, I (selfishly!) trust the Foundation will use the affordable fee of my membership well. I've also worked with CSPF, and found a staff loaded with articulate, informed, and passionate people. The Foundation is constantly churning out creative ways to protect and enhance our state parks. The terrific newsletter I receive keeps me up to date on what's going on, as well as all the podcasts and videos on the site. The organization remains down-to-earth and current at the same time. One thing though - I wish it was more obvious as to where I can sign a petition getting the State Park Access Pass on the November 2010 ballot! As far as I know, CSPF is the only organization in California whose energies are focused solely on our state parks, making it's existence critical. I think it's safe to say that without the Foundation, our stellar parks would be lost to development, and the thousands of people who visit them deeply deprived.

CSPF has been doing a great job of keeping the State Parks financial problems in the public eye and is leading the way to getting something done.