California’s state parks are facing a public safety staffing crisis, and it could soon be worse.
Twenty years ago, California had about 800 state park rangers. Today, that number is closer to 500. More than 80 million people visit state parks each year, and the system spans nearly 1.6 million acres. Fewer rangers are being asked to protect more visitors and more land and respond to more emergencies.
Now California is considering vacancy sweeps that would eliminate unfilled ranger positions…