Now to give you some background. Skyline Park is is a large state park in South Napa next to the State Hospital. With hills, trees, lakes and falls, it seems that the park is a pristine area used mainly by horseback riders and the occasional BMX National Ride. A beautiful area so far surrounded by horse ranches and natural beauty.
Napa County’s bid to purchase Skyline Park from the state was killed Saturday afternoon when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill allowing the purchase.
The Governor vetoed SB 678, authored by Sen. Patricia Wiggins, D-Santa Rosa, that would have given the county the first opportunity to purchase the 850-acre park near Napa State Hospital. Four years ago the state looked to sell the park as surplus property to another party.
Reader Forum: What happens now to Skyline Park?The bill also would have required Napa County to retain title to the entire property for use as a park or wilderness preserve. Plus, if the county ever decided to sell the land, SB 678 mandated the county restrict future land uses as the same in place now.
Last year a similar bill was vetoed by Schwarzenegger because it required the state to launch an environmental review of the property prior to a sale. This year’s bill did not include that requirement.
Assemblywoman Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa, helped push the bill in the Assembly. The bill passed the Assembly on a 60-7 vote and narrowly passed in the Senate.
Wiggins said she was “profoundly disappointed” with Schwarzenegger’s decision to veto SB 678, which “would have ensured that the community would control the future of this wonderful space,” according to comments distributed by her press office.
Now the thought in my head was why. it seems minor. the state had been looking at selling it. Why did they turn down the county. Afraid that the County was going to develop it? Did someone in the State government already have plans to sell it to a developer? Or is it possible that Schwarzenegger actually knew of one or both, and actually did it to keep it a park? So many questions… what is the answer.
