Whaleshead State Beach

whaleshead 72_1080_web, originally uploaded by plattj1.

So far it's another incredibly sunny day... We braved the dirt road to Whaleshead Beach State Park, what a great little spot. We have been here before with my kids about 18 years ago. It looks exactly the same. No graffiti, everything in working order and a nice people enjoying the Pacific Ocean.

Why is it that Oregon can maintain their state parks and beaches and California cannot? Virtually everywhere we stop the facilities are clean and in working condition. There are park employees out working and the infrastructure is not crumbling and destroyed. I know it is not due to lack of use, you have to make reservations at some of these campgrounds up to 9 months in advance, they are full every night.

It is embarrassing to compare the way California treats the parks and public spaces they are responsible for, our stewardship is horrible. All of the people I know who camp, hunt or fish feel the same way I do, we pay our taxes and the demanded fees to use the parks but find they are falling apart around us. I just want to know where the money is going. Obviously it is possible to have a great park system, the drive from Patrick’s Point State Park in Trinidad, CA to Harris Beach State Park in Brookings, OR only takes 2 hours. They are both geographically spectacular, however only one is cared for properly.

Stewardship says a lot about the inner life of the steward in charge, in this case  what is being looked after is not the public spaces for future generations. By all appearances those we have entrusted with our facilities are choosing to devour the park funds for some other area. Our California parks and public spaces need a new steward, one who cares for them first.