Historic Covered Bridge at Bridgeport, South Yuba River State Park (Photo by Dave Anderson, SYRPA President)

People Can Save the Parks!

The South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) strongly encourages river lovers to take action to keep both the South Yuba River and Malakoff Diggins State Parks open. We must also find the funds to repair and reopen the historic Bridgeport Covered Bridge.

After hearing the news that the park was staying open - jubilant cheering (photo by Ivy Photography)

Dear Friends,

Today, our community proved that “People Can Save the State Parks!”

A delegation of over 100 people from Nevada County caravanned on the “Yuba Express” to the State Capitol and hand-delivered over 10,000 letters and petition signatures to Governor Jerry Brown, Resource Secretary John Laird, and Parks Director Ruth Coleman requesting that the South Yuba River and Malakoff Diggins State Parks be removed from the parks’ closure list.

They were greeted at the Capitol by Resource Secretary John Laird who announced that the State will keep the South Yuba State Park open (click here for press release). State Parks Director Coleman said that the leadership from Nevada County Board of Supervisors “backed by overwhelming community support” made this possible.

The Yuba Express on the State Capitol Steps Celebrating

Since news of the parks closures last year, hundreds of people have volunteered their time and energy to collect over 10,000 signatures. SYRCL is proud of the

dedicated community leaders who worked tirelessly on the “Save Our Yuba State Parks” campaign. We are proud, too, of our elected officials on the Nevada County Board of Supervisors and the City Councils of Truckee, Grass Valley and Nevada City who unanimously endorsed this successful community wide effort.

We understand that the State of California is hurting financially. We understand that protecting our state parks requires new partnerships, increased volunteerism, and new revenues such as modest parking fees. Our community accepts the necessity for the State Parks to charge for parking at Bridgeport to support the South Yuba River State Park. We applaud the leadership of Supervisor Hank Weston to collaboratively develop a solar power system to reduce operating costs at Malakoff Diggins State Park. Finally, the South Yuba River Citizens League’s hundreds of volunteers will never shy away from taking care of the Yuba River watershed we love, which is home to these two parks.

10,500 signatures ready for delivery

To the 10,000 signatories: thank you for your support, and because of you, the South Yuba River State Park is off the closure list!

Sincerely yours,

Caleb Dardick, Executive Director of the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL)

Resources

Read the State Park Press Release – Park off the closure list

Read the Fact Sheet about the campaign here

Read the Resolution by the Nevada City Council opposing the state park closure

Read the County Board of Supervisors Supporting the State Parks with Road Closure

Nevada County Board of Supervisors Oppose the State Park Closure in a letter to Governor Brown

In The News

February 12, 2012: Editorial:  School kids show the state why parks should be open to all, Sacramento Bee

February 9, 2012:  South Yuba River State Park taken off closure list, Sacramento Bee

February 8, 2012:  School Kids on a Mission to Save State Parks, KCRA

February 8, 2012:  Official:  South Yuba River State Park to stay open, The Union

February 7, 2012:  Yuba Express to save the parks, KNCO

February 6, 2012: GV Charter Students to deliver 10k signatures to keep state parks open, The Union

February 2, 2012:  Supporters of South Yuba River and Malakoff Diggins have cause to celebrate, The Union

January 24, 2012: Saving the parks:  petition drive exceeding expectations, The Union

January 20, 2012: Scoop:   Modest parking fees and solar proposed to keep local State Parks open; our “electeds” unite in effort, Jeff Pelline’s Sierra Foothill Report

January 19, 2012:  Defend the Parks:  Thank the Board of Supervisors on January 24, SYRCL Website

January 15, 2012: New SYRCL Director aims to save state parks, Nevada City Advocate

January 11, 2012:  Nevada County Surpasses Goal – More Than 7,000 Sign Petition to remove South Yuba and Malakoff Diggins State Parks from Closure List, SYRCL Website

January 7, 2012: New “S(h)ave Our Yuba State Parks” Movement Raises Stakes – Bald Heads to Raise Awareness and Stop State Park Closures, SYRCL Website

January 3, 2012:  SYRCL Signature Campaign Halfway There, KNCO Newstalk Radio

January 2, 2012:  Op-Ed:  Pam Biery:  An Open Letter to Governor Jerry Brown, YubaNet News

December 30, 2011:  Save our State Park Campaign incorporated at Wild & Scenic, Wild and Scenic Film Festival Website

December 29, 2011:  Endangered Parks gain support in 2011, The Union

December 21, 2011:  SYRCL petition drive making progress, The Union

December 13, 2011: Sign here, for state parks – Community to petition against state park closures, The Union

December 13, 2011: Elementary School Students Protest Of State Park – Video, KCRA Sacramento

December 11, 2011:  Community to come together to save state parks, The Union

December 10, 2011:  Kids plan for park protest at Capitol, The Union

December 8, 2011: South Yuba River Citizens League Co-Hosts Town Hall Meeting to Save State Parks, SYRCL

November 11, 2011: Take our State Parks off the Closure List, SYRCL

November 2, 2011:  State’s park closure criteria murky, Assembly panel told, Sacramento Bee

October 17, 2011:  Closing off an icon: Bridgeport covered bridge to be fenced off Friday, The Union

October 5, 2011:  Park Advocate: Local Businesses Rally Together to Save State Parks, The Union

September 6, 2011:  Yuba Parks Still in Limbo, SYRCL

June 30, 2011:  Nevada County State Parks on the California Chopping Block, SYRCL

June 24, 2011:  SYRCL Volunteers and Staff Rally at the Capitol to Save our State Parks, SYRCL

June 16, 2011:  Nevada County Supervisors Denounce Closure of our State Parks, SYRCL