Calif. Parks Donors Angry Over Revelation of Hidden Cash

Nonprofit and community groups that led fundraising drives to keep California State parks open and save them from the budget ax say their efforts have been badly damaged by the discovery of a $54-million surplus in the park system’s coffers, writes the Los Angeles Times.

The director of the parks department resigned in July following revelations that the agency that had targeted 70 recreation and historic sites for closure due to budget cuts had amassed the unreported cash hoard. Almost all of the targeted parks were saved due to donations from philanthropists, charities, and local governments.

“There was a sense of betrayal,” said Carolyn Schoff of the California League of Parks Associations. “We’re the ones in the trenches raising funds for state parks and now there’s a dark shadow over us.”

Activists who raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions and pledges for Henry W. Coe State Park said talks with donors to secure another $500,000 for the park outside San Jose had collapsed amid the scandal. Ventura County and Oxnard city officials are demanding the state refund their contributions to maintenance work at McGrath State Beach.