Emily Maher, KCRA
Updated 9:55 am PDT, Thursday, October 11, 2018
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A Stockton woman is petitioning to change the name of a popular California state park.A Stockton woman is petitioning to change the name of a popular California state park.
Photo: KCRA / Emily Maher
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Best California state park for TREE HUGGINGBig Basin Redwoods State Park in Boulder Creek, Calif.California’s oldest state park contains nearly 11,000 acres of old-growth forest in addition to recovering redwoods. Here, you can bask in the largest continuous stand of ancient coast redwoods south in San Francisco.Best California state park for TREE HUGGINGBig Basin Redwoods State Park in Boulder Creek, Calif.California’s oldest state park contains nearly 11,000 acres of old-growth forest in addition to recovering
Photo: Tony Avelar, Special To The Chronicle
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Best California state park for RAFTINGSouth Yuba River State Park in Nevada City, Calif.You’ll find world-class rapids, ideal for kayaking or rafting, at this state park.Best California state park for RAFTINGSouth Yuba River State Park in Nevada City, Calif.You’ll find world-class rapids, ideal for kayaking or rafting, at this state park.
Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, Special To The Chronicle
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Best California state park for WILDFLOWERSAnza-Borrego Desert State Park in Borrego, Calif.This one’s a no-brainer. Anza-Borrego reigns supreme when it comes to spectacular wildflower displays. See more photos from this year’s bloom here.Best California state park for WILDFLOWERSAnza-Borrego Desert State Park in Borrego, Calif.This one’s a no-brainer. Anza-Borrego reigns supreme when it comes to spectacular wildflower displays. See more
Photo: MARK BOSTER, AP
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Best California state park for HARDCORE BACKPACKINGSinkyone Wilderness State Park in Garberville, Calif.Hardcore backpackers will find miles of desolate trails edging along the coast at this remote, sprawling park in Mendocino County.Best California state park for HARDCORE BACKPACKINGSinkyone Wilderness State Park in Garberville, Calif.Hardcore backpackers will find miles of desolate trails edging along the coast at this remote,
Photo: Kim Komenich, SFC
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Best California state park for LITERARY FODDERPoint Lobos State Natural Reserve in Carmel, Calif.Both Robert Louis Stevenson and poet Robinson Jeffers drew inspiration from the cliffs and wildlife of Point Lobos.Best California state park for LITERARY FODDERPoint Lobos State Natural Reserve in Carmel, Calif.Both Robert Louis Stevenson and poet Robinson Jeffers drew inspiration from the cliffs and wildlife of Point
Photo: Mason Trinca, Special To The Chronicle
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Best California state park for FISHINGClear Lake State Park in Kelseyville, Calif.
After five years of drought, Clear Lake is again not only full, but over the brim and spilling. It’s ranked the No. 1 bass lake in California and is the largest natural lake inside state borders. less
Best California state park for FISHINGClear Lake State Park in Kelseyville, Calif.After five years of drought, Clear Lake is again not only full, but over the brim and spilling. It’s ranked the No. 1 bass … more
Photo: Tom Stienstra / Tom Stienstra / The Chronicle
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Best California state park for CAVING
Mitchell Caverns in the Providence Mountain State Recreation Area, in eastern Mojave Desert
The magnificent Mojave caverns, peppered with striking stalagmites and stalactites, reopen in November, after budget cuts and infrastructure issues forced their six-year-long closure. Read more about the reopening here.
Best California state park for CAVINGMitchell Caverns in the Providence Mountain State Recreation Area, in eastern Mojave Desert
The magnificent Mojave caverns, peppered with striking stalagmites and
Photo: Jerry Schad/Getty Images/Science Source
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Best California state park for MINING GOLDColumbia State Historic Park in Columbia, Calif.Grab a pan at a local mining supply store and get dirty at this historic California park. Those looking to keep their boots dry can explore the town, a beacon of a bygone era with sagging buildings and centuries-old stagecoaches.Best California state park for MINING GOLDColumbia State Historic Park in Columbia, Calif.Grab a pan at a local mining supply store and get dirty at this historic California park. Those looking to keep their
Photo: James Tensuan
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Best California state park for TIDE POOLINGSalt Point State Park in Fort Ross, Calif.
There’s plenty of opportunity along Salt Point’s 6,000 acres of coastline to sleuth for sea stars, anemones and hermit crabs.
Best California state park for TIDE POOLINGSalt Point State Park in Fort Ross, Calif.There’s plenty of opportunity along Salt Point’s 6,000 acres of coastline to sleuth for sea stars, anemones and hermit crabs.
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Best California state park for CLIMBINGCastle Crags State Park in Dunsmuir, Calif.Castle Dome, often compared to Yosemite’s Half Dome, is a prime spot for climbing and bouldering with its jutting cliffs and granite spires.Best California state park for CLIMBINGCastle Crags State Park in Dunsmuir, Calif.Castle Dome, often compared to Yosemite’s Half Dome, is a prime spot for climbing and bouldering with its jutting cliffs and
Photo: Andy Murdock, Special To The Chronicle
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Best California state park for OTHERWORLDLY GEOLOGYMono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve in Lee Vining, Calif.Calcium-carbonate spires and knobs jut from the Martian-like landscape of Mono Lake. Though the “tufa towers” may look out-of-this-world, they were formed by natural means – the interaction of freshwater springs with alkaline lake water.Best California state park for OTHERWORLDLY GEOLOGYMono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve in Lee Vining, Calif.Calcium-carbonate spires and knobs jut from the Martian-like landscape of Mono Lake. Though the
Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle
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Best California state park for GHOST HUNTINGBodie State Historic Park in Bodie, Calif.Perched in the hills east of the Sierra Nevada, Bodie was a gold mining town in the 1800s. These days, it’s a dusty abandoned ghost town popular with tourists and supernaturalists.Best California state park for GHOST HUNTINGBodie State Historic Park in Bodie, Calif.Perched in the hills east of the Sierra Nevada, Bodie was a gold mining town in the 1800s. These days, it’s a dusty
Photo: Mimi Ditchie Photography/Getty Images
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Best California state park for BUTTERFLY WATCHINGNatural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz, Calif.This Santa Cruz park gets blanketed in butterflies every fall when monarchs arrive from their yearly migration. Sightings peak around the end of October to mid-November.Best California state park for BUTTERFLY WATCHINGNatural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz, Calif.This Santa Cruz park gets blanketed in butterflies every fall when monarchs arrive from their yearly
Photo: Brant Ward, The Chronicle
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Best California state park for WATERFALLSMcArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park in Burney, Calif.The second oldest state park in California happens to have an impressive waterfall. At 129 feet long, Burney Falls is the largest waterfall in any state park.Best California state park for WATERFALLSMcArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park in Burney, Calif.The second oldest state park in California happens to have an impressive waterfall. At 129 feet long,
Photo: Skylar Santeo / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm
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Best California state park for MOVIE SET SPOTTINGRailtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown, Calif.“Back to the Future,” “Petticoat Junction” and numerous westerns filmed here, with the historic railroad as a backdrop.Best California state park for MOVIE SET SPOTTINGRailtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown, Calif.“Back to the Future,” “Petticoat Junction” and numerous westerns filmed here, with the historic railroad
Photo: California State Parks
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Best California state park for BIRD WATCHING
Salton Sea State Recreation Area in Mecca, Calif.
Though all California state parks are excellent spots for bird watching, some of the best variety of avians are visible at Salton Sea. The region even hosts an annual bird festival in February.Best California state park for BIRD WATCHINGSalton Sea State Recreation Area in Mecca, Calif.
Though all California state parks are excellent spots for bird watching, some of the best variety of avians are -
Best California state park for HOT SPRINGSGrover Hot Springs State Park in Markleeville, Calif.Natural hot springs bubble surrounded by pine and sagebrush at this state park on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada.Best California state park for HOT SPRINGSGrover Hot Springs State Park in Markleeville, Calif.Natural hot springs bubble surrounded by pine and sagebrush at this state park on the eastern side of the Sierra
Photo: Jamie H./Yelp
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Best California state park for HISTORYMarshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in Coloma, Calif.It’s hard to pick a top state park in this category, as many of California’s parks have storied pasts, but Marshall Gold Discovery is so brimming with legend, it’s got “historic” in the name. The park encompasses most of the historic town of Coloma where gold was found by James Marshall in 1848.Best California state park for HISTORYMarshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in Coloma, Calif.It’s hard to pick a top state park in this category, as many of California’s parks have storied pasts, but
Photo: Laura Morton, Special To The Chronicle
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Best California state park for ISLAND HOPPING
Angel Island in San Francisco
This park, in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, has camping, hiking and history – all contained on a single island.Best California state park for ISLAND HOPPINGAngel Island in San Francisco
This park, in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, has camping, hiking and history – all contained on a single island.Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, The Chronicle
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Best California state park for OUTLANDISH WILDLIFE
Ano Nuevo State Park in Pescadero, Calif.
It’s impossible to single out one state park with excellent wildlife, but Ano Nuevo certainly has sights not seen elsewhere. Its odd-looking elephant seals mate and give birth on beaches easily observed from lookout points.
Best California state park for OUTLANDISH WILDLIFEAno Nuevo State Park in Pescadero, Calif.
It’s impossible to single out one state park with excellent wildlife, but Ano Nuevo certainly has sights not seen
Photo: John Kesselring, Special To The Chronicle
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Best California state park for SKIING
Donner Memorial State Park in Truckee, Calif.
Don’t be turned off by the park’s name. You’ll certainly meet a different fate than the Donners on the miles of groomed cross-country skiing trails at this Tahoe park.Best California state park for SKIINGDonner Memorial State Park in Truckee, Calif.
Don’t be turned off by the park’s name. You’ll certainly meet a different fate than the Donners on the miles of groomedPhoto: Gabrielle Lurie, Special To The Chronicle
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Best California state park for GLAMPINGBig Basin Redwoods State Park in Boulder, Calif.A concessionaire rents fully equipped tent cabins at the oldest state park in California.Best California state park for GLAMPINGBig Basin Redwoods State Park in Boulder, Calif.A concessionaire rents fully equipped tent cabins at the oldest state park in California.
Photo: Warwick, CVC
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Best California state park for WHALE WATCHINGJulie Pfeiffer Burns State Park in Big Sur, CaliforniaWaterfalls, whales and plentiful other wildlife call home to this state park, located on California’s stunning Pacific coast. In the winter, gray whales are easily spotted from the coastline as they migrate southward for warmer waters.Best California state park for WHALE WATCHINGJulie Pfeiffer Burns State Park in Big Sur, CaliforniaWaterfalls, whales and plentiful other wildlife call home to this state park, located on California’s stunning
Photo: Scott Hargis
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Photo: KCRA / Emily Maher
FOLSOM, Calif. (KCRA) —
A Stockton woman is petitioning to change the name of a popular California state park.
Phaedra Jones started an online petition calling on the state to change the name of Negro Bar State Park in Folsom.
Jones said the park’s name is insensitive and offensive.
In a statement, California State Parks spokesperson Adeline Yee said they understand the park’s name may be offensive to some but said it is historically significant:
“Many feel that a name change would reduce the cultural significance and important contribution that African Americans made in the region. While the Department of Parks and Recreation is very sensitive to the perception of unit names within our state parks, we are also very careful to insure that our rich California culture and history remain intact.”
KCRA 3’s Emily Maher sat down Jones, the woman who started the petition, to find out why she wants the name changed.
Q: Why are you petitioning for a name change?
Jones: We’re in a day and time right now where we don’t use that word as often, or as much. I understand that it has been used in the ’60s and it was a term that was great, but we don’t use it anymore.
We should have a beautiful name to match the beautiful park. The park is beautiful.
Q: What do you think the park should be called?
Jones: I feel like the name should honor one of the miners. I’m proud that it has been something for black people. I want it to stay that way.
But, I feel since we have progressed in time and age, I feel the name should change with that.
Q: When you hear the word “negro,” what does it mean to you?
Jones: If I hear the name, “Negro,” I feel shock. I’m hurt.
I can’t believe someone would call me that. I understand that “negro” was used back in the ’60s or ’70s, I understand that.
But, if someone, right now, were to call me, “negro,” I would be in shock. I would cry.
I would feel uneasy. I wouldn’t believe that someone would call me “negro,” right now.
Q: Have you heard from the state about the petition? What do you want them to do?
Jones: I haven’t.
I want something where we can come together with an agreement, something that will make the name better. (To) change the name to something different, something where we can come to an agreement.
Jones’ petition had more than 1,500 signatures on Tuesday.
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