Panel urges overhaul of California parks system

By David Siders / Sacramento Bee

A panel created by the Legislature to review state parks operations reported Friday that the Department of Parks and Recreation is underfunded and mired in outdated bureaucracy, and that the parks system is out of reach for many poor people in urban areas.

The report from the Parks Forward Commission calls for the creation of a special team to work for two years to address operational issues within the state parks department, and for the formation of a new nonprofit to raise money for the parks system.

“Department employees take pride in protecting and sharing state parks’ assets, but are hampered by a department that is debilitated by an outdated organizational structure, underinvestment in technology and business tools, and a culture that does not inspire or reward collaboration or innovation,” the report says.

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Photo Credit: Della Huff