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Because our quality of life depends on the quality of our State Parks . . .

Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks supports the preservation, knowledge, and awareness of our natural and cultural resources through funding projects and programs in cooperation with local California State Parks.

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California's state parks are the nation's first and largest, with 279 parks, visited by 80 million people a year. Second only to the National Park system, our state parks protect the largest collection of natural and cultural monuments of any state in the nation and provide us a $4.2 billion annual economic boost.

Despite all this, in 2009 the State Park system was nearly closed down.

Thanks to unprecedented public advocacy, certain closure was averted. But millions of dollars of new cuts were approved, targeting our lifeguards, environmental education for school kids, habitat restoration and key visitor services. Once the envy of the world, the California state park system now teeters on the brink of collapse.

We need our state parks. They provide recreation and education for locals and visitors, environmental protection for our state's most precious lands and vital economic support throughout California. They were fought for, financed and preserved by past generations and they are our legacy to future generations.

Today, our State Parks need all the Friends they can get.

In Santa Cruz County, thousands stood up and helped earn our parks a temporary reprieve from closure. Thanks to that effort we have a unique opportunity to safeguard our state parks, while a permanent way to fund our state park system is secured. To this end, Friends has joined a statewide coalition in support of the State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010.

The State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010 is a proposed statewide statutory ballot measure, slated for November 2010, which would create a stable, reliable and adequate source of funding for the state park system, for wildlife conservation and to provide increased and equitable access to those resources for all Californians.

We are asking everyone in our community for support during this effort and to be a part of the solution. Here is how you can help:

Together we will save all our Santa Cruz County State Parks! Our children and grandchildren deserve the same opportunities for inspiration, renewal and access to their Cultural and Natural heritage that is afforded us by having well-stewarded local state parks.