Santa Cruz County parks are scheduled to be closed as part of wide-ranging action to keep the county budget balanced and to save $2.8 million. The Board of Supervisors voted 3-0 on Dec. 9 to approve spending cutbacks averaging about 15 percent for the departments paid through general fund revenues.

Effective Jan. 8, a total of seven county employees will lose their jobs, said Finance Director Jennifer St. John, and 21 other county positions, currently vacant, will be “eliminated.” Of employees now working, three are maintenance workers and the impact on the department means the county’s seven parks will be closed, County Manager Greg Lucero said.

How much money closing the parks will save was not part of the information distributed at the Dec. 9 meeting, but the elimination of 28 positions is expected to save $1.2 million.

Which are they?

The county’s parks include Ronald R. Morriss Park in Tubac; Calabasas Park and Robert Damon Park in Rio Rico; Chula Vista Park, Monte Carlo Park and Manuel Tapia Walking Trail in Nogales; and the Sonoita ball field, St. John said.

Without explaining what would allow a change, County Supervisor John Maynard said he hopes that some of the parks can re-open in early March to allow Little League activities. There was no discussion about when or if the other parks might be re-opened.

After the meeting, St. John told a reporter she didn’t think the Tapia Walking Trail will be closed because it is immediately adjacent to the Santa Cruz County Complex.

(Reach the writer at kathleenvan@msn.com)