As the state's growing population continues to devour open space, the California state park system increasingly is fighting efforts to build railways, roads, utility lines and commercial ventures that threaten its scenic preserves and historical sites.
Land set aside for the "health, inspiration and education" of the people of California is also coveted by transportation agencies, local governments, utilities and other interests that view parks as the path of least resistance for their projects.
"The target is right on our backs," said Dick Troy, a 30-year veteran of the state Department of Parks and Recreation and former deputy director of operations. "We need to be diligent and remind the public what parks are for."
In the past, state officials have managed to fend off serious threats, including a luxury resort at scenic Crystal Cove State Park in Orange County and highways through the redwoods of Northern California.
But proposed incursions on parkland recently have multiplied, raising fears that these oases soon could be degraded by noise, dust, destruction of wildlife habitat, erosion and water pollution, among other threats.
California's development and business interests contend that parkland should not be off-limits to civic projects if the environment is protected and there are no reasonable alternatives.
"We understand that parks serve a recreational purpose, but they should not preclude other uses, such as gas lines and highways, where appropriate," said Jeanne Cain of the state Chamber of Commerce.
Under current law, parks can be used for such purposes, but the state must declare the property no longer necessary for conservation, and the Legislature must agree.
Perhaps the best-known conflict between preservation and development is unfolding at San Onofre State Beach, a popular park in north San Diego County with 2,100 acres containing scenic wild lands, endangered species, Native American archeological sites, and world-famous surf spots. A toll road agency in Irvine considers it an ideal spot for a six-lane highway.
This week, the state attorney general and environmentalists sued to halt the project.
San Onofre is not the only example. A new study by the California State Parks Foundation, an advocacy group, identified about 115 threats to 73 state parks -- more than a fourth of all such properties. The number is significantly higher than two earlier foundation studies found.
