SOUTH COUNTY — The City of King is showing its support of Pinnacles National Park by joining the Pinnacles Gateway Partners, a partnership with neighboring cities to help protect the park’s resources and visitor experiences.
King City Council adopted a resolution at its June 13 meeting to provide support for this effort in the amount of $2,500. The funding will be used to jointly pay for part-time staff or a consultant to develop branding and marketing.
“Since the City does not have much funding available for tourism and marketing efforts, this provides a cost-effective way in which to encourage more visitors to the city related to the Pinnacles National Park,” City Manager Steve Adams said.
According to Adams, the partnership’s mission aims to strengthen visitor experiences both at the park and in its gateway communities, in addition to increasing recreation and healthy living opportunities for residents.
He said efforts are underway to brand the region and expand tourism opportunities that celebrate the communities’ shared heritage and unique resources, while helping to protect Pinnacles National Park and assure a quality experience for visitors.
Other Gateway Partners include the cities of Greenfield, Hollister, San Juan Bautista and Soledad, Monterey County and San Benito County.
The Pinnacles transitioned from National Monument to National Park in 2013 with the vision of recognizing its resources while providing economic benefit to its local communities, according to park Superintendent Karen Beppler-Dorn.
A recent National Park Service report showed that 215,555 visitors to Pinnacles National Park in 2016 spent $12.6 million in nearby communities, supporting 172 jobs in the area with a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $15.5 million.
In a news release about the report, Beppler-Dorn said national park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy, returning more than $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service.
“It’s a big factor in our local economy as well,” she said. “We appreciate the partnership and support of our neighbors and are glad to be able to give back by helping to sustain local communities.”
