Peter wrote:
> > You have to be a FPOA member to get the gate combo to enter
> > into the FPOA area of the Park to do astronomy.
And Mark followed up with:
> Peter... unless things have changed in the past year or so,
> the actual restriction is on driving into that area. You must
> be an FPOA member to do so. In other words, if you wanted to
> park outside the locked gate and haul your 20" Starmaster up
> there, it is okay. Is that right, or are the rules even more
> restrictive now?
Mark may be correct about driving into the "FPOA side" of the park; he
usually does his homework on stuff like this. To find out what the
current rules are, I would need to check with the State's Department of
Parks and Recreation (DPR), probably the local San Juan Batista office.
As most of you probably know, any problem with access to the FPOA side
of the park is NOT related to the FPOA. It's strictly with the State.
Although the FPOA has tried to get the State to move on this, I do not
believe the DPR has ever published an approved written policy for access
to, and use of, the *public areas* up near the observatory and over by
the shop. With the rangers' residence bordering the public area, the
local rangers certainly have their own take on policy - and sometimes
disagree with one another on access - but I've never seen the State put
down anything in writing. Until the DPR publishes a policy for access
and use of the public areas on the FPOA side of the park, the local
rangers will likely make the access/use decisions.
As an FPOA member, my understanding is that the FPOA is responsible for
the observatory, 'scope reservations, etc., and can only give out the
gate combo to its members, a written policy approved by the State. That
being said, I'm not aware of anything that states you must be an FPOA
member to get the combo directly from the State DPR.
...Bob...
Bob Czerwinski