Residents can join nonprofit, support effort to stop closures for $12 annually

By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

On May 13 of last year Gov. Jerry Brown announced that 70 of California’s state parks would be closed to help shore up the state’s budget shortfall. Both of Benicia’s parks were included on the closure list.

Brown’s announcement set in motion a local movement to keep open the city’s two state parks. Now that effort is ramping up as the parks’ slated closure date approaches.

The Benicia States Parks Association, a nonprofit group of residents and parks “stakeholders,” has been working with the city to keep open the Benicia State Recreation Area and Benicia Capitol State Historic Park.

The plan they are proposing would involve the city covering operational expenses for the Capitol and its adjoining Fischer-Hanlon House, an early Benicia middle-class home appointed with many antiques, while the Recreation Area would be kept open largely through volunteer efforts.

Also key to the agreement, as proposed, would be the hiring by the state of a part-time curator and the hiring of a part-time volunteer coordinator.

At the Dec. 21 meeting of the Economic Development Board, Acting Economic Development Manager Mario Giuliani reported that in addition to an interim agreement for the city to maintain the Capitol grounds and restrooms, state and city officials continue to work for longer-term agreements.

But time is pressing. The parks are slated for closure July 1.

Carol Berman, Benicia State Parks Association president, said a key focus has been to boost membership in the BSPA, which has a nearly 40-year history but “has never been a membership-type organization.” To show the state that community support exists to keep the parks open, Berman said, the BSPA must grow — and fast.

“Part of this operating proposal that is being put together is that you need community support, which we have, but we need membership,” she said. “Although we’ve been in operation for almost 40 years as a nonprofit, and as the Benicia State Parks Association in name since the 1980s, we have never had to solicit members.

“We’ve had volunteers who give tours at the (Fischer-Hanlon) House, and there are what are called ‘volunteers in parks,’ but we have never had to procure a standing membership.”

Now, in working with the city to prevent the looming shuttering of the parks, “we’ve really been put into fast-forward with regards to gaining a membership,” Berman said, adding that the drive to boost individual member ranks and complete the operating proposal has been so important that the BSPA hasn’t been soliciting aid from corporations or applying for grants.

She said the nonprofit is now offering a $12 annual “Friends” membership — a rate not designed to raise revenue so much as ranks. “To really garner support of the community, we need membership. We need to be able to show in our operating proposal that we have members that support us by paying an amount.”

Berman said statewide, similar efforts are under way to keep open most of the 70 parks slated for closure. “From my information there are 55 parks that are either in the process of writing an operating proposal or have submitted one. Like Sonoma or Napa,” she said. But, “(Benicia’s) historic sites are right downtown, and are an iconic emblem of the city. In that, we’re somewhat unique.”

BSPA has mailed letters containing membership forms to dozens of residents, but those who have not received one and who still would like to become members of the association may send a check for $12 payable to Benicia State Parks Association, P.O. Box 404, Benicia, CA 94510-1625. The fee covers an annual membership, but Berman said the 100th person to sign up will win a lifetime membership.

The nonprofit also will hold a fundraiser Jan. 24 at First Street Café, 440 First St. Anyone bringing the flier below (click to enlarge and print) to the restaurant that day between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. will see 20 percent of their bill donated to BSPA.