By Christine Sculati, Bay Nature
After six months of fundraising, the nonprofit Friends of China Camp raised $250,000, enough money to take over operations of the cultural and historical landmark along the northwest shores of the San Francisco Bay.
Just one day after assuming the state’s responsibilities, the news broke that the California Department of Parks and Recreation had stashed away $54 million for 12 years at a time when state parks have suffered from severe budget cuts. China Camp State Park was among 70 parks statewide threatened with closure by July 1, 2012.
“We were shocked. We had worked so hard, not just us, but the whole community,” said Steve Deering, a Friends of China Camp leader.
Despite these developments, Friends of China Camp volunteers are pressing on and believe that they can be part of the solution to create a better park system, one built on higher standards of accountability and transparency.
“Those funds would make our lives easier if we don’t have to have bake sales every year to make money,” said Deering. “But (State Parks) is not out of the woods with the $54 million, and it’s up to the legislature to make a decision on the use of the funds.”
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