By Christine Richard; Photo by Thomas J. Story

When I first went to Point Reyes on a day trip from San Francisco, I was immediately drawn to a road sign that said Heart’s Desire Beach; it had an arrow pointing ahead. Who wouldn’t follow? So I took the road which led to Tomales Bay State Park, parked my car, walked past two families picnicking on a beach and onto a trail tunneled in trees, mostly pines. The view at the top of the bluff was gorgeous California bay, the air fresh. At that moment, it was my heart's desire. To think that Heart’s Desire might be shut down, along with 47 other California state parks, is, well, Heart Breaking.

A brief rundown: The state of California needs to make budget cuts, and one way to save money is to close 48 of its state parks (see which ones here), or 17 percent of the system. Elizabeth Goldstein, president of California State Parks Foundation, tells Sunset that if these parks close, public access will be barred and the parks will be minimally patrolled, and maintenance will be discontinued. This opens up the state to liability (think of hikers accessing these lands anyway and getting lost) and increases chances of vandalism. Besides wilderness areas, state beaches and historical monuments are also affected.

4 ways to show your love for California parks:

1. Send a letter to your lawmakers opposing these proposed closures.
2. Participate in Park Advocacy Day at the State Capitol on April 7.
3. Get involved with a local or regional organization. Here is one list. 
4. Photograph your favorite and enter CSPF's photo contest. Winners are announced monthly, with prizes.