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 Clay Godbout, owner of KonocTEES Screenprinting and Embroidery in Clearlake, shows a T-shirt created to help support the local push to save state parks. “It feels so good to be able to do this,” Godbout said. Photo courtesy of Leona Butts. THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH A NEW LINK TO DOWNLOAD PETITIONS.
LAKE COUNTY – Organizers of a local effort to save the county's two state parks are hoping to gather several thousand more signatures before month's end in an effort to convince Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to change his plans to close the parks.
In January, Schwarzenegger's initial budget proposal suggested closing 48 state parks, including Anderson Marsh State Historic Park and Clear Lake State Park.
Local park supporters and the Clear Lake and Lakeport Chambers of Commerce launched an effort to stop the closures by circulating petitions and keeping the issues before community members.
In the two months since the park closure proposal was made, an estimated 6,000 signatures have been gathered locally in protest, said Leona Butts, a member of the Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association and one of the organizers of the petition drive.
Butts said the goal for the petitions is to have 10,000 signatures by March 29, which will be delivered to the Park Advocacy Day on April 7.
It's a reachable goal, as Butts estimated that 6,000 signatures already have been collected.
Not only have area residents weighed in, but so have others from across the United States. Butts reported receiving signatures in support of saving the local parks from places including New York, Washington state and Texas.
Richard Bergstresser board member with the State Park Peace Officers Association, told Lake County News this week that the group is encouraging people to call their local legislators and “object strenuously” to the closures. “That's probably the best direct action anybody can take.”
In addition, Jerry Emory, a spokesman for the California State Parks Foundation, encouraged those wanting to show their support for keeping the parks open to visit the Save Our State Parks Web site at www.savestateparks.org. There, people can sign letters to legislators, share their stories about state parks and get updated information on the parks situation.
In addition to the local petition drive, Butts said Clay and Phyllis Godbout, owners of KonocTEES Screenprinting and Embroidery in Clearlake, have designed a T-Shirt carrying the theme, “Savor our Parks, Save our Lake County Parks.”
The shirts – which feature the logos of the Anderson Marsh and Clear Lake State Park interpretive associations – sell for $12, with $4 from each sale split between the two park groups. Shirts are available from KonocTEES and at the Clear Lake Chamber and Wild About Books in Clearlake, and will be available at the Audubon Chapter meeting on March 20. If you haven't signed a petition yet, or would like more information, Butts welcomes calls at her Clearlake Oaks home, 998-3027. Petitions also may be downloaded at www.lakelive.org/.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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