March 12, 2012 | 5:33 PM | By

The Evolution of California’s State Parks

INCLUDES: INTERACTIVE TIMELINE
FILED UNDER: American History, Charts and Infographics, English Language Arts, Government, Green Space, california, state parks, timeline

Credit: E. Howe/Flickr

In 2010, California voters rejected Proposition 21, which would have added an $18 annual surcharge to vehicle license fees and raised about $500 million annually to fund state park and wildlife conservation programs. Now, without the funding, nearly a quarter of the entire system’s sites – almost 70 parks – are in danger of being closed down. During difficult economic times, it’s no surprise that public resources like state parks are given low priority, especially compared to more urgent services like public safety. But, a quick look at the rapid growth of California’s park system over the last century – even during hard financial times – shows how unprecedented the current threat is.

About the author

Matthew Green runs KQED’s News Education Project, a new online resource for educators and the general public to help explain the news. The project lives at kqed.org/lowdown. View all posts by Matthew Green →