Does a human s*** in the woods? .... In California State Parks, they might have to.

[marmar]

from the San Francisco Chronicle:



California State Parks cutbacks widespread
Peter Fimrite, Chronicle Staff Writer

Tuesday, October 27, 2009


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San Francisco -- The California State Parks won't be closed, except during the week and in certain seasons and, really, most of the time, according to a list of cutbacks released Tuesday.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger decreed last month that no parks would be shuttered, but the $14.2 million he cut out of the state parks budget means many of the 278 parks in California will be open only on weekends and almost all will have to endure partial closures. Most of the closures begin next week.

The list prepared by park superintendents throughout California indicates that park visitors should also be advised not to expect many lifeguards or interpretive programs or parking spots or, for that matter, public restrooms, even in a pinch.

"The headlines last month were: 'The Governor Saves State Parks.' Uh, wait a minute. There is still a $14.2 million hit to the state budget," said Jerry Emory, spokesman for the California State Parks Foundation. "In fact, these service cuts might impact more parks systemwide. Before, we were looking at a list of 100 parks, including partial, full and seasonal closures. Now the plan is just to do that across the entire system."

There will be major cutbacks in the Bay Area, including campground, picnic and parking lot closures on Mount Tamalpais, Angel Island, Mount Diablo, Samuel P. Taylor, Tomales Bay and China Camp state parks. Facilities at Olompali State Historic Park, Candlestick Point State Recreation Area and the Benicia Capital State Historic Park will be closed.

The cuts were part of a deal Schwarzenegger signed in July to erase a $24 billion budget gap. The deal also chopped $22.2 million out of the 2010-11 parks budget. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/27/BA861ABBAK.DTL

[Vinca]

1. Vermont did away with most public restrooms along the Interstate highway

quite a few years ago. It has never made sense to me. If you've got to go, you've got to go and no facilities means a trip into the woods along the side of the road which is both dangerous and unsanitary.