Seventeen state parks in San Mateo County are threatened for closure due to California’s financial crisis.

Among those slated for closure are Pigeon Point Lighthouse, Año Nuevo and Linda Mar beach in Pacifica, according to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s latest budget proposal.

But State Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco/San Mateo, cautions that no decisions have been made yet on park closures by the Legislature.

“Just because it’s tough times doesn’t mean you have to use bad judgment,” said Yee, who indicated he would continue to fight for resources for San Mateo County.

In Pacifica, the news of the possible closure of Linda Mar State Beach came as a shock to Councilman Peter DeJarnatt.

The mile-long beach sits on the southern end of town and is a popular surf spot.

“I don’t think they can close it down,” he said. “It’s officially a state beach but we manage it ourselves.”

DeJarnatt is already bracing for the state to borrow about $900,000 from Pacifica in property tax revenue to help the state close a potential $24.3 billion deficit for the next fiscal year.

“They say the money will be paid back in 36 months — we’ll see,” he said.

The park system receives about $150 million from the state’s general fund and the public could be barred from 223 of the state’s 279 parks, according to park officials.

Camping and boating fees will also need to be raised.

County Supervisor Rich Gordon represents coastal communities where many of the state parks are slated to be closed.

“It’s unclear whether the state will stop providing staff for the parks or just padlock them,” he said.

Any closures would hurt families who choose to forgo vacations in favor of recreating closer to home, Gordon said.

“Sacramento is a very grim place right now. There are huge and significant cuts coming and the county faces its share,” he said.

State park closures will also put more pressure on county parks, Gordon said.

And the county is not prepared to absorb any more visitors, said David Holland, San Mateo County Parks director.

Holland’s department is understaffed by 40 percent, he said.

“We’ve got staff to open the gates in the morning and close them at night, but that’s about it,” he said.

San Mateo County Parks Foundation Executive Director Julia Bott says parks are often targeted for cuts because they are considered an extravagance.

“Parks are considered a luxury. But they are not. They are fundamental to the fabric of society,” she said.

Besides, she contends, if the state doesn’t provide park service, the burden will ultimately fall on local government agencies to monitor the parks because people will use them anyway.

“If you close the gates, people will park somewhere else creating potential traffic problems. If you lock the bathrooms, people will still need to go and that will create unsanitary conditions,” Bott said.

The responsibility to clean up these messes and deal with traffic problems will fall on someone’s shoulders, she said, and those shoulders will likely be local government agencies.

Bill Silverfarb can be reached by e-mail: silverfarb@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106.

Box info:

Slated for closure

• Año Nuevo, natural reserve

• Bean Hollow, beach

• Big Basin Redwoods

• Burleigh H. Murray Ranch (park property)

• Butano

• Castle Rock

• Gray Whale Cove, beach

• Half Moon Bay, beach

• Montara, beach

• Pacifica, beach

• Pescadero, beach

• Pigeon Point Light Station, historic park

• Point Montara Light Station (park property)

• Pomponio, beach

• Portola Redwoods

• San Gregorio, beach

• Thornton, beach