Fort Ord Dunes State Park
{{short description|State park in California, United States}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Fort Ord Dunes State Park
| iucn_category = III
| photo = Fort Ord Dunes.jpg
| photo_caption = Coastal dunes at Ford Ord Dunes State Park
| map = USA California#USA
| relief = 1
| location = Monterey County, California, United States
| nearest_city = Monterey, California
| coordinates = {{coords|36|39|16|N|121|49|20|W|region:US-CA|display=inline, title}}
| area = {{convert|980|acre|ha}}
| established = 2009
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = California Department of Parks and Recreation
}}
Fort Ord Dunes State Park is a state park in California, United States, along {{convert|4|mi|km}} of coastline on Monterey Bay and created from part of the closed Fort Ord. The park includes a boardwalk, a path to the beach, a {{convert|4|mi|km|adj=on}} road for walking and biking, and interpretive exhibits describing its former use as a military training area. As the dunes are a nesting area for sensitive species, public access is limited to the paths and trails.
History
The Fort Ord Dunes State Park encompasses coastal areas of the closed Fort Ord, a United States Army installation. The area once held 15 rifle ranges for the installation.{{cite web |last=Bischoff |first=Matt C. |title=Fort Ord Dunes State Park |url=http://foaa.csumb.edu/fort-ord-dunes-state-park |publisher=Fort Ord Alumni Association |access-date=2011-12-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006172334/http://foaa.csumb.edu/fort-ord-dunes-state-park |archive-date=2011-10-06 |url-status=dead }} After undergoing restoration work the landmark became a state park in 2009.{{cite news |last=Cooper |first=Jeanne |title=Fort Ord Dunes now a state park |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/22/PKRA1BH8L1.DTL&type=travel |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |location=San Francisco, Calif. |date=2010-01-24 |access-date=2011-12-30}} The land was transferred as a public benefit conveyance to the State by the National Park Service through the Federal Lands to Parks Program. The conveyance, at no cost to the State, requires that the land be used only for public park and recreation area purposes in perpetuity, with the federal government retaining a reversionary interest if the terms of the deed are not met.Conveyance of federal surplus property for public park purposes is authorized by the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, as amended, esp. by the Federal Lands for Parks and Recreation Act of 1969; P.L.91-485; 40 U.S.C. §550(e). Other areas of Fort Ord have become the Fort Ord National Monument or have been used for commercial or educational purposes.
Fort Ord Dunes State Park was one of the 48 California state parks proposed for closure in January 2008 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as part of a deficit reduction program.[http://cbs5.com/local/California.parks.budget.2.627476.html CBS5.com: List Of Calif. Parks To Close In Budget Proposal] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080223141631/http://cbs5.com/local/California.parks.budget.2.627476.html |date=February 23, 2008 }} The closures were ultimately avoided by cutting hours and maintenance system-wide.{{cite news |last1=McGreevy |first1=Patrick |last2=Sahagun |first2=Louis |title=State parks to stay open, but with cuts in hours, staffing |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-sep-26-me-state-parks26-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |location=Los Angeles, Calif. | date=2009-09-26 |access-date=2011-12-30}}
A new campground is planned for 2022. One unit will have 45 recreational vehicle (RV) sites with hookups for electricity and water. A second unit is for family camping with 40 sites for tents and small, self-contained RVs. The third unit will be for walk-in and cyclists.{{Cite news|url=https://www.kqed.org/news/11803095/new-california-coastal-state-park-planned-for-2022-opening|title=New California Coastal State Park Planned for 2022 Opening {{!}} KQED News|agency=Associated Press|date=February 23, 2020|via=KQED|language=en-us|access-date=2020-02-24}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{wide image|NorCal2018 Panorama Fort Ord Dunes State Park, Monterey Bay DSCF1079.jpg|1000px|Panoramic view of dunes}}
{{wide image|NorCal2018 Panorama Fort Ord Dunes State Park Monterey Bay DSCF1105.jpg|1000px|Panoramic view of the beach}}
External links
{{Commons category|Fort Ord Dunes State Park}}
- [http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=580 Fort Ord Dunes State Park]
{{Protected areas of California|SP}}
{{Monterey County tourist attractions|state=collapsed}}
{{authority control}}
Category:2009 establishments in California
Category:Parks in Monterey County, California