California Parks Offer Free Admission To Celebrate Summer Solstice
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – The National Park Service is celebrating the first day of summer by offering free admission to its parks on Tuesday, including those in California.
This is actually not a new idea as the agency has opened its parks for free a dozen times in the last few months. But the move to open for free on the summer solstice is new.
In the Bay Area, that means that parks like Muir Woods are fee-free, along with the John Muir House and the Eugene O'Neill House in the East Bay.
"It's that one more inspiration to come out. Making it free, opening it up to everyone," said Alex Picavet with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. "It's usually not that expensive anyways, but this really helps."
KCBS' Margie Shafer Reports:
Crissy Field is one park that is always open for free to the public and many were out on Tuesday enjoying the first day of summer and the warm weather.
California State Parks are struggling for funding as 70 are slated for closure in 2012.
The National Park Service is on a different budget calendar, which begins in September. It is still unclear what type of cuts, if any, the department will face as part of the national budget plan.
(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
