The Trail Companion

Early Spring 1999

Castle Rock General Plan Update

     California Dept. of Parks and Recreation has released the Preliminary General Plan for Castle Rock State Park. The Department has prepared the general plan with input from a citizen's advisory committee and the public from the series of meetings held in 1998 to discuss options for the park. The plan discusses existing conditions, including natural history and historic features of the park. It sets out goals and guidelines for park management in areas of natural, cultural and esthetic resources. The Department proposes setting aside half of the park as a natural preserve, while developing the Partridge Farm area as the main park entrance, with parking, campground and interpretative activities. Additional development may take place at Tin Can Ranch. The plan calls for preparation of climbing and trails plans, and a comprehensive resource management program. Climbing would be prohibited within the proposed natural preserve, with a climbing management plan proposed for areas outside the preserve. The park would remain closed to bicycles.
     Copies of the preliminary general plan are available for public review at the Santa Cruz Public Library, Santa Clara Central Library, San Francisco City Library, SJSU Library, Los Gatos City Library, Saratoga Community Library, San Jose Main Library, USCS Library, Castle Rock State Park and Mountains Sector Office in Boulder Creek, California State Parks Santa Cruz District Office, and at the California State Parks Northern Service Center in Sacramento.
     Written comments on the plan and draft EIR must be received at the Northern Service Center by April 15, 1999. Call (916) 323-0975 for information; additional information, including the Castle Rock State Park General Plan News, is available at from the Calif. State Parks website [note: no longer available online as of 8-31-2001].