The latest state park to drop off the closure list is Annadel, east of Santa Rosa. The Press Democrat reports Sonoma County supervisors have just approved a one-year deal with the state to take over the five thousand acre reserve. State parks officials are expected to approve the deal by the end of the month.
The deadline to save parks from closure is July 1.
It costs about $278,000 a year to keep Annadel open to hikers, horse riders, cyclists and recreational fishermen. The bill will be covered by the California Department of Parks and Recreation, by parking fees, and by donations, including $100,000 from local philanthropist Henry Trione. Sonoma's regional parks agency would manage Annadel, which borders Spring Lake Regional Park.
The deal leaves only one state park in the county on the closure list: Austin Creek in Guerneville.
The Press Democrat says county supervisors worry the state will try to unload Annadel on the county permanently. State parks officials haven’t suggested that … yet. But as the Los Angeles Times points out, it's something park lovers all over California are worried about. After all, nobody expects this to be the last year the budget looks ugly.