Locals fight Morro Strand State Beach closure

Posted: Jun 7, 2011 6:12 PM by Nancy Chen
Updated: Jun 7, 2011 10:52 PM

Local activists fight to save Morro Strand State Beach

Locals are joining together tonight to fight the closing of Morro Strand State Beach.

The state park in Morro Bay is one of 70 California parks set to close by next summer because of state budget problems.

All together, the state says it will save $22 million in the next two years.

Opponents of the Morro Strand closure say 44,000 campers visit there each year, and Morro Bay businesses say they'll definitely feel the loss of tourism.

Matthew Wright says he travels from Fresno each several times a year with his family specifically for the campsite.

"The beach is literally a hop, skip and a jump away, so you can go out there, walk along the beach," he said. "Miles of beach line to walk. You can fly kites. The kids absolutely love it, and you get salty in the water."

Wright is camping at Morro Strand for a week with his family, an opportunity he might not have for much longer.

"Everything that we have been hearing is that this is not crying wolf as it has been in the past," said Mary Golden, the executive director of the Central Coast Natural History Association. "This is really going to happen."

That's why the group is trying to get locals to fight the closure by contacting their lawmakers.

They want to use part of the state's unexpected $2 billion in revenue to save state parks.

The state says it considered a number of factors in deciding which parks to close, including visitation, how much money it would save and statewide significance.

One thing is for sure though: this park is very significant to the people here, visitors and businesses alike.

Supporters say the park's neighboring economies would lose
up to $2.5 million a year if it closed.

Patrick Bietz, the owner of Top Dog Coffee in Morro Bay, says it would definitely sting.

"We're a tourist community," he said. "And so when tourists come through, and they go through the state parks, and they camp, it makes a big impact for us here."

Wright says he most likely won't come back to the area without the campground.

"This is where we stay," he said. "So obviously, if it closes--we love the area--we'll probably go someplace else."

The meaning of a "closed park" is somewhat tricky; legally, the state can't close a beach, but it can shut down the campgrounds at Morro Strand.

The town-hall meeting started at 6 p.m. at the Museum of Natural History at Morro Bay State Park.