Much more than just a walk in the park, supporters of the La Purisima Mission State Historic Park hope their “Walk a Mile for the Mission March” will keep their threatened mission open.

The march, sponsored by the Prelado de los Tesoros docent volunteers and CoastHills Federal Credit Union, is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday, beginning at River Park, with a rally planned around the mission fountain at 11 a.m.

“We say, ‘march a mile for the mission', but it's actually closer to two miles,” confided march organizer Scott Coe, vice president of marketing for CoastHills.

Coe added that there would be help transporting marchers from the mission back to their cars.

In January, the news came down from the state that a soaring state deficit had led the governor's office to propose the closure of 48 state parks, including La Purisima.

Cries of protest from the Lompoc community began shortly after, and included the local Chamber of Commerce, Lompoc City Council, State Sen. Abel Maldonado of Santa Maria, and the Prelado de los Tesoros, the group of over 140 volunteer docents who organize and perform many of the special events at the mission.

“There isn't a person that says it wouldn't be a shame,” said Sheila Libby, the Prelado publicity member.

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Local and state politicians have been invited to the rally, including State Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee, of San Luis Obispo. His staff confirmed Friday that a district representative would attend.

The state park includes nearly 2,000 acres that have been protected from the encroachment of development and 25 miles of trails that are regularly used by hikers, joggers, and horseback riders.

Many more come to the natural setting of the mission for the history, especially on days the docents organize special events. Student Learning History Days for instance, offers fourth-grade students, who have a unit of mission history in their curriculum, firsthand look at mission life. There are 11 Student Learning History Days, attracting classes from across the state, with as many as 750 students visiting each time.

Libby said that the Prelado docents had already begun writing fourth-grade teachers around the state, asking for support to oppose the closure.

“Every time someone comes to the mission we also tell them about this walk, and to support the mission,” Libby said.

“The mission is certainly important to me,” Coe said, “But this (march) is in response from a lot of inquiries we've heard in the community, asking what we can do.”

Postcards will be available at the march for La Purisima supporters to write messages to lawmakers on.

The seven CoastHills locations in the Lompoc and Santa Maria areas will also have postcards available.

A group of docents plan to hand-deliver the postcards and letters in support of the mission to lawmakers in Sacramento April 7, during the Sixth Annual Park Advocacy Day.

“I hope it turns out to be an effective tactic and gets the legislators to pay attention to us,” said docent organizer Jack Forrest.

Glenn Wallace can be reached at 737-1059 or gwallace@

lompoc record.com.

March 24, 2008