Last May, California announced that 70 state parks were slated to be permanently closed due to budget cuts.
Palomar Mountain State Park was on the list, but a San Diego group is hoping to save the park.
The Friends of Palomar Mountain State Park submitted a proposal to the California Department of Parks and Recreation in December. The group pledged to cover any deficit between expenses and income.
Friends of Palomar Mountain State Park Chairman Rick Barclay said they need $40,000 to bridge the gap between what the park brings in and what it spends. Pledges from donors have already reached $69,000.
“Our first objective is to keep the park open, get it off the chopping block. But once that’s done, it’s going to be time to do more long range planning," he said.
Park officials are meeting tomorrow to hammer out the final details of the agreement. A decision from the state is expected by the end of the month.