Friends of Mountain Group Steps In to Aid State in Preventing Park’s Closure
By J. Harry Jones / U-T San Diego / May 30, 2012
PALOMAR MOUNTAIN — Palomar Mountain State Park has officially been saved.
California State Park’s Director Ruth Coleman has signed an agreement permitting the park and its popular campgrounds to remain open for the next three years as long as a nonprofit citizen’s group is willing to cover the deficit between the park’s income and expenses.
Palomar was one of 70 parks statewide scheduled to be closed on July 1 because of the state’s budget crisis. Since then dozens have been saved through similar agreements.
Under the agreement between the Department of Parks & Recreation and Friends of Palomar Mountain State Park — the organization spearheading the stopgap funding — the state will continue to maintain and operate the park with paid park staff for the next three years. In exchange, the association will raise money to help cover costs. Both parties agree that the intent of the arrangement is to keep the park running at full operation, but that will depend largely on how much money the association raises through contributions from the public.
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Doune Pond at the Palomar State Park.
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