Nonprofit friends group rescues Palomar Mountain State Park northeast of San Diego

Palomar State Park photo by California State Parks

Friends of Palomar Mountain State Park announced that the Director of California State Parks, Ruth Coleman, signed off on an agreement to remove Palomar State Park in the mountains northeast of San Diego from the park closure list.

Over 300 individuals, corporations and foundations (including the California State Parks Foundation) contributed funds to keep the mile-high park on the western side of Palomar Mountain open for another year, the first in a three-year commitment. An ongoing fundraising campaign will continue to ensure the park’s operation beyond the first year, as well as to pay for improvements to the park. The park features a campground, views of the Pacific and hiking amid ancient live oaks with 10-foot diameters. Bedrock mortars and artifacts found here are evidence that native peoples lived in the area for hundreds of years.

Palomar becomes the 18th park to receive official notice and a signed agreement. That leaves 52 parks on the closure list for July 1, 2012 — just over four weeks away. Efforts are underway to save several more parks. Nonprofit park groups and public agencies are close to finalizing deals. We should expect to hear official news about Hendy Woods, Sugarloaf, Annadel, Point Cabrillo and others soon.

In May 2011, the California Department of Parks and Recreation announced the closure of 70 state parks due to devastating state budget cuts. This blog celebrates the parks and the people who are rescuing those state parks. The nonprofits behind these efforts have invested a significant amount of human energy to save these public assets, so please visit the parks and donate if you can to their causes.

Parks on Closure List with Signed Agreements to Stay Open
Visit the Park Status Updates page for the latest count of parks saved. You can help build a sustainable future for these parks by visiting the parks and making donations to the park partners.