State Recreation Area Set to Close July 1.

The State of California and the City of Benicia have so far been unable to agree on the terms of an operating agreement for the Benicia , one of 70 state parks identified for closure last year.

The Benicia State Capitol Historic Park is also on the closure list but the city and state have reached an agreement whereby the city will maintain the grounds and restrooms at the downtown park.

The Benicia Herald reports that the biggest stumbling block for both the state and the city is money.  If no agreement is reached, the state recreation area is slated to be shuttered on July 1.

“Our first priority is to keep those gates open,” said acting Economic Development Manager Mario Giuliani.  “Then it’s a matter of figuring a way to build back services.”

State Senator Noreen Evans' is still working its way through the legislature.  The bill would steer money toward state parks for road and trail maintenance.

The City Council will hear a report on the negotiations at its regularly scheduled meeting next Tuesday, June 19 at City Hall.

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If there’s something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, call editor JB Davis at 707-628-0051 or email him at benicia@patch.com.