Majority of CA Parks to Temporarily Stay Open

The California Department of Parks and Recreation said Thursday the state had reached agreements with nonprofits

California parks officials say 65 of the 70 state parks slated for closure will temporarily remain open due to new money from the state budget.

The California Department of Parks and Recreation said Thursday the state had reached agreements with nonprofits, local governments and others regarding 40 of the parks, and deals were in the works for 25 more.

The state previously issued a list of 70 parks it intended to close to bridge a budget deficit but will now only close five.

A San Diego park that was subject to closure was saved when a group ended up raising enough money for it to stay open for three years. Palomar State Park would have closed by this Sunday, but donations of more than $86,000 are currently keeping it staffed. The group needs $180,000 to keep it in operation until 2015.

The announcement came as Gov. Jerry Brown partially vetoed a state parks funding bill, allocating $10 million in new funds rather than the $31 million approved by the Legislature.
 

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