Kathy Bailey appeared before the Community Services District Board last week to urge the Board to help save Hendy Woods State Park from its scheduled closing early next year. Bailey, representing the local Chamber of Commerce, told the Board that a special new joint committee of the State Assembly will reconsider the criteria for closure soon, noting that originally the Parks Department only addressed basic cost savings without considering the wider implications of what closing the parks means to their surrounding communities.
Bailey pointed out that state revenues are dropping “precipitously,” and hundreds of millions of dollars of anticipated revenue are not expected to materialize, thus putting more pressure on the state to cut more services, dooming most of Mendocino County's state parks including the heavily visited Hendy Woods.
There are provisions in state law which allow the state's parks to be contracted to nonprofits or private corporations, but these fall-back strategies have seldom been applied to state-owned facilities.
Bailey added that the loss of Hendy Woods will significantly impact the local tourist economy, because, among other of its attractions, it serves not only tourists but offers a safe “walking option” for locals and visitors. And there's absolutely no other place in the Valley for walking among old-growth redwoods.
Henry Gundling, who expects to take a seat on the CSD Board in January, agreed with Ms. Bailey, adding that Hendy Woods was one of the three most important pillars supporting the health and welfare of the Anderson Valley, right up there with the fire department and the health clinic. Gundling said later that saving Hendy Woods was one of the main reasons he decided to apply as a CSD trustee. A long-time stalwart of County land trusts, Gundling certainly brings substantial experience to the fledgling struggle to spare Hendy Woods from the budgetary axe.
In answer to a question from director Valerie Hanelt, Bailey pointed out that she was not aware of a similar case of state park management being turned over to a local government agency or a nonprofit.Bailey said that as far as she knows the water system at the Park is serviceable so long as it is regularly maintained, which is also the case with the park's septic system.
Gundling noted that California's budget situation will only get worse and it is essential that people start organizing to take over local management of the park as soon as possible.
Bailey said she was looking for people to take on what just could be the most formidable local project in the history of The Valley.
The Board voted unanimously to send this letter drafted by Bailey to the joint Assembly committee considering state park closures:
“Thank you for holding a hearing regarding the looming park closures. Among those parks slated for closure is the centerpiece of our community public open space, Hendy Woods State Park.
“Anderson Valley has a population of approximately 3200 people who are distributed among four towns, Yorkville, Boonville, Philo and Navarro, and the surrounding hillsides. The community spans a 37 mile stretch of Highway 128 in western Mendocino County. Most places in Anderson Valley are an hour away from the nearest other communities.
“Hendy Woods State Park is our only significantly sized park. There are two cathedral like old-growth redwood groves totaling around 60 acres, 94 campsites in the younger redwood groves, a few camper cabins, many miles of trails, and a long stretch of the Navarro River including the only public swimming hole available to the community. We have no other public swimming facilities. Other Hendy Woods, the other parks in Anderson Valley are a playground and a small county park that is not big enough to include hiking trails. Hendy Woods is the only public place that local people and visitors can walk or hike except along roads and highways.
“Much of our local economy is tied to tourism. We are a premier grape growing and wine tasting region, have a nationally recognized brewery, and are well known for our arts and crafts, organic produce, sheep, olives, apples, good restaurants and our relaxing atmosphere. One of the main attractions here Hendy Woods. We are perennially short on overnight accommodations and much of what is available comes with quite a high price tag. If we lose the campground at Hendy Woods we will have lost most of our ability to host middle income people and families. There are no alternatives that would result in visitors staying and doing business in Anderson Valley.
“According to the California State Parks system statistical report for 2009/2010 fiscal year, Hendy Woods hosts 8,306 paid day use visitors, 3,111 free day use visitors, and 38,295 camping visitors. This represents an enormous amount of economic activity for our community including restaurant meals eaten, food and supplies bought, wine and beer tasted and purchased, and gifts bought to bring home. The reason Anderson Valley works so well as a visitor destination is the availability of a wide variety of activities and services. Shuttering a central feature of that mix will severely diminish every sector of the visitor serving economy.
“Along with being a key piece of the economy, Hendy Woods is a beloved part of our community. Our residents and teachers bring our children there to learn about the outdoor world and cool off in the summer. People walk, run, and bike there for the health of their bodies and spirits. More than a few couples have quietly been married among the ancient trees. Without Hendy Woods, where will we go? Are we really to be required to live in sight of such great beauty and not be allowed to go there?
“As an elected public board responsible for the Anderson Valley Fire Department, our street lights, and a small recreation program, we understand the need to live within a budget. But we question whether severely damaging our local economy will truly result in savings to the state's General Fund. We find it particularly unreasonable that consideration for local economies and community economic well-being were not among the factors the Parks Department was directed to consider when deciding what parks to close. There was absolutely no communication with us or anyone else within the community prior to the announcement of the closure. In fact, except for your hearing, to this day no one has ever communicated with us and asked for feedback regarding the likely effects of closing Hendy Woods .
“For the sake of our community, we ask that you direct the Parks Department to consider the economic and community ramifications of their proposed closure decisions. We are confident that if they do so, they will realize the wisdom of keeping Hendy Woods State Park open.”
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