This bill would not only help current efforts to protect state parks from new roads, it would prevent future battles statewide. Our state parks are managed specifically for preservation, wildlife values and recreation. The state invests in parks and wildlife areas for their environmental, recreational and scenic value, which is destroyed when habitat and recreational areas are fragmented by new roads. Construction of roads through our parks is not an appropriate use of these lands. There are alternatives to placing a new road through a park.
Highway construction can occur outside park boundaries.
Once a park is destroyed, it is destroyed forever. As California's population grows and increases the pressure on our transportation systems, more and more parks will be threatened by new roads. We must draw the line now and choose to preserve our parks. The State of California has an obligation to its citizens to preserve and maintain the quality of California's environment for future generations. This bill is now being considered by the Senate Natural Resources and Wildlife Committee.