Several popular parks in San Diego could be on the chopping block under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget proposal to shutter 220 California Parks.
Schwarzenegger on Tuesday proposed eliminating $70 million that the state is expected to spend on parks through June 30, 2010. Another $143.4 million would be saved in the following fiscal year by keeping the parks closed.
Among the sites that could be closed to visitors: Torrey Pines State Beach, Torrey Pines State Reserve, Silver Strand State Beach, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Carlsbad State Beach, Palomar Mountain State Park, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, San Pasqual Battlefield State Historic Park.
Elsewhere in California, many of the Redwoods along the foggy north coast, Emerald Bay on the shores of Lake Tahoe and Will Rogers' ranch in Southern California could be shuttered.
The state parks department says the cut would leave them with enough money to run just 59 of California's 279 state parks.
The park cuts are among $18 billion worth of cuts the governor has proposed to lawmakers faced with a $24.3 billion deficit.
