State parks face deep cuts in tough economy

Many Americans are planning to hit the road today for the upcoming long holiday weekend and a lot of folks are heading to state parks. Historically, these parks have been a cheap and accessible vacation. However, as National Correspondent Ben Tracy reported on "The Early Show," the economy and state budget cuts are changing that.

For more than 85 years, time at at Deception Pass State Park in Washington State has been priceless.

One parkgoer told CBS News, "Oh, it's just peaceful here. Just refresh your soul."

But now, Tracy reported, this scenery comes with a cost. As of July 1, Washington State is charging a $10 daily fee to enter any of its parks.

Park manager Jack Hartt said, "These are lands that are owned by the people of the state."

Hartt has been a ranger for 23 years. He says park visitors are no longer just guests - they're customers.

Hartt said, "Now we're thinking of how do we collect their money, how do we make sure we're meeting the financial needs as well as their recreational experiences. The beauty of parks is that they used to be free, used to be available for everybody, but because we're now charging it's going to be a challenge for those who don't have that much money."

Tracy introduced Randall Kelley, a fisherman who has come to Deception Pass State Park for the past 25 years.

"This place means everything to me," Kelley said. "I love this place. My wife says I spend more time here than at home."

But now Kelley is unemployed and can't afford to pay to get in.

Kelley said, "I mean if you don't have the money, you don't come."

The problem is Washington State is out of money, too. It has a nearly $5 billion deficit. The state used to spend $87.3 million, according to its 2007-2009 budget, on its state parks. Now lawmakers are defunding all 118 of them - zero tax dollars. Parks will now rely on people paying the $10 daily fee or buying a $30 dollar annual pass, according to the State of Washington.

But, Tracy pointed out, in Washington State, officials don't yet know if user fees will bring in enough money to keep all of their parks open, some may have to close.

That's, unfortunately, the scenario in California. There Gov. Jerry Brown plans to close 70 of California's 278 parks - a whopping 25 percent of state park land.

Popular McGrath State Beach north of Los Angeles will close in September. Its buildings have been decaying for decades.

Eric Hjelstrom, sector superintendent of Ventura State Parks, showed CBS News signs of structural issues at the park. Tracy noted a sewer pipe there is on the verge of spewing raw sewage into the Pacific Ocean. It would cost $500,000 to fix. The state doesn't have it, so the park will be shut down.

Hjelstrom said, "The money to do repairs has pretty much dried up."

The Hoffman family has been holding family reunions at McGrath for 29 years. This may be their last one.

Park visitor Michael Hoffman said, "The little ones will say, why can't we come. I can't see my cousins. So we'll have to find something else to do to keep them happy. We'll miss it, it's sad."

Across the country many states are making tough choices: cutting funds from their parks or closing them altogether. Ohio may even resort to drilling for oil in its parks to generate revenue.

Barbara Tulipane, chief executive officer of the National Recreational Park Association, told CBS News, "The problem is what will be the next step? Will they sell those state parks? And then where will my grandkids and your grandkids spend their time in nature? That's a real concern for us."

Back at Deception Pass in Washington State, volunteers are picking up the slack.

Volunteer Sammye Kempbell said, "We have rangers here that are cleaning restrooms. These are rangers with degrees. They don't have the time to go out and teach people about their outdoor environment."

"Early Show" co-anchor Rebecca Jarvis pointed out there is potentially a broader economic ripple effect from park closures. She said nearby communities may also suffer, from stores where visitors buy supplies to shops where they get their RVs serviced. The parks cost state governments about $2.3 billion a year, but they generate nearly 10 times that amount for the surrounding areas - about $20 billion.