MAPA NEEDS YOUR HELP TO SAVE OUR PARKS. You are the ones who make it possible for MAPA to continue fighting for OUR parks. The struggle has been a long process and has taken much time and effort. We can't give up now! Please donate. Any amount will help the cause.

THANKS FOR THE LETTERS OF SUPPORT SENT TO THE
PUBLIC WORKS BOARD

WHAT A GREAT SUPPORT TEAM YOU ARE!

MANY of you sent letters to the Public Works Board (PWB) Hearing Board that was held on February 1, in Sacramento.  MAPA appreciates your taking the time to express your support for non-profits and local groups to have first priority to manage our 'closing' parks so as to keep them open to the public. 

Your letters adamantly expressed our preference to keep the management of our parks local rather than turn them over to private organizations outside our county.

PWB made mention of the many letters, emails and faxes they received and are now aware that there is strong support on a local level that is capable of keeping our parks open, a fact they didn't realize before the mail-ins.  They were under the impression that there was no one who could step forward to help and that private concessions were the only option.

Even so, PWB voted to allow the CA Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) to bundle the 11 parks to put them out for bid with the caveat that PWB review the agreement for the chosen entities before DPR signs the agreements to operate or for concession.

DPR assured MAPA that they will not slow down the review of the proposals from nonprofits and local groups and that they would prefer to choose a local entity when possible.

DPR has set a workshop in Fort Bragg on February 23 specifically for the non-profits and organizations who are proposing to operate the parks and DPR will discuss with us their requirements and criteria.

MAPA will definitely attend.  We will keep you informed of the results.

ALSO! MAPA is working with a dedicated group called Team Standish who is fighting for Standish-Hickey State Park. We are currently working on a budget and proposal for this truly lovely park.

Together, we can make this happen!

Eleven parks are proposed for 2 separate bundles
In the 5-park bundle, four are in Mendocino County:
Standish-Hickey * Westport Union Landing
* Russian Gulch * Hendy Woods
One is in Sonoma County: Austin Creek

All of these parks either already have, or soon will have proposals submitted to the CA Department of Parks and Recreation, (DPR) by local non-profits and community organizations.

UPDATED PARK NEWS

as of February 3, 2012

Mendocino State Park news
Information as we know it at this time:

1) Standish-Hickey: MAPA as the potential umbrella organization for Standish Hickey is gathering information for submitting a proposal to operate. Standish Team is a strong gathering of dedicated and skilled people and we are honored to be asked to work with them. We are currently in collaboration on a budget and a proposal to operate the park.
2) Westport-Union Landing: Westport Village Society submitted a strong proposal to DPR.
3) Jug Handle: A donor is making a pledge that will, hopefully, continue to allow parks to keep this park open.
4) Point Cabrillo: October 2011, a proposal has been submitted to parks from PCLK to try to run the park. No definite agreement in place.
5) Russian Gulch: December 4, 2011, MAPA submitted a proposal to operate the park. No definite agreement in place.
6) Greenwood Museum & Beach: MAPA will submit a proposal to keep the museum open. Discussions are in place with the community to help keep the beach open with volunteer commitment.
7) Hendy Woods: Kathy Bailey, Anderson Valley Chamber, is working very hard to help raise funds to keep Hendy Woods open.
8) Manchester: MAPA is in discussion with the local park staff on the feasibility of operating this park. If interested in Manchester, please contact DPR at 707.937.5804, or MAPA at 707.937.4700 or mapa@mendoparks.org

Assemblymember Jared Huffman spoke to a gathering of Hendy Woods supporters to inform them of what has been accomplished to date, and what he hopes to accomplish in keeping open the CA State Parks scheduled to close, including Hendy Woods.

Huffman is the author of the Huffman AB42 Bill, signed recently by Governor Brown, that allows non-profits like MAPA to manage a park.

Kathy Bailey, Anderson Valley Chamber of Commerce, along with the Anderson Valley wineries and the local businesses and citizens, are advocating that the State not close Hendy Woods, or any of the parks - that the legislators find a better way to save money. All were in agreement that closing parks not only does not save money, the action actually costs the state money when you factor in the loss in camping and day-use revenue from visitors, loss in sales tax revenue to the state, and the downward spiraling effect of business forclosures and laid-off employees filing for unemployement.

In the 8 parks in Mendocino County we're striving to keep open, most are in consideration for being managed by a non-profit. Bailey's efforts are going toward the state keeping Hendy open and continuing to run the park.

MAPA Contact Information:
Phone: 707.937.4700
Fax: 707.937.3845
Email: mapa@mendoparks.org
Mailing Address: PO Box 1387, Mendocino, CA 95460

MAPA Mission Statement:“To inspire wonder, discovery and responsibility for our natural and cultural treasures on the Mendocino Coast.”

MAPA Tagline: "Appreciation, through Education, promotes Preservation"