Visitors to the busiest state parks can expect to pay more for daily parking passes and camping privileges starting next week, officials announced Tuesday.
The changes could affect several spots in San Diego County, including Carlsbad State Beach, Torrey Pines State Beach and Palomar Mountain State Park.
The fee increases are part of a mad dash to prevent as many state parks and beaches as possible from closing after Labor Day, officials said.
When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed millions in park funding late last month, the California Parks and Recreation Department said about 100 sites would close after the busy camping holiday due to the state's fiscal crisis.
So far, there's no list of which places will see increased fees of between $2 and $5 more for daily parking passes and between $10 and $21 more a night for camping. The increases take effect Aug. 17.
Officials said in a written statement that "park managers will evaluate attendance, with higher fees where demand is greatest."
There's also no list of which parks and beaches are most likely to close, department spokesman Roy Stearns said Tuesday.
The beaches fall into the park system's San Diego Coast District, which in the 2007-08 fiscal year covered nearly all of its $10 million operating costs with revenues, according to a statistical report produced by the parks department.
On the other hand, the Colorado Desert District, home to Palomar Mountain State Park and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, had operating expenses of $6.5 million and took in just $1.1 million, the report said.
Most districts cost more to run than they take in from visitors, and raising fees is only part of the Parks and Recreation Department response this year, officials said.
Stearns said officials also are actively seeking sponsorships to keep parks open
"We wouldn't be renaming anything just to get a check, but we have no objection to putting up a sign, a banner, something temporary and tasteful, to give credit where credit is due," Stearns said.
Stearns said officials were not yet ready to name the groups or individuals who've shown interest in sponsorship.
Carlsbad resident Bridget Smith was critical Tuesday of the parks system budget cuts. She said fee increases at the gate may discourage attendance. She favors a fee incorporated into the vehicle registration process.
Smith said she's been following the park funding crisis since the spring, when a preliminary list of possible closures was released.
"Pretty much every park I have ever enjoyed, as a young person and now that I'm older, was on that list," Smith said.
George Lucia, chief of the Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department, said he doesn't want to see Palomar Mountain State Park close without some safety measures put in place.
"My concern is that they would gate it in someway to secure it and I need access to protect it," Lucia said. "There's always a fire hazard."
Lucia said that if the park had to be closed he'd want it secured with gates that recognize firetrucks and automatically open for them. He said he also doesn't want to lose the park ranger.
"The ranger is a very important part of security and control and he's one of our first responders," Lucia said.
To view the California Parks and Recreation Department announcement about fee increases effective Aug. 17, visit the Web site.
Call staff writer Colleen Mensching at 760-739-6675.
