Governor Schwarzenegger announced today that his administration has reached an agreement with a local landowner to protect Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park.  The agreement would prevent the landowner from operating a livestock facility next to the park.  It must now be approved by the Public Works Board to become finalized.

"Today's agreement protects the cultural and historical significance of Allensworth State Park, while at the same time respecting private property rights.   I would like to congratulate the parties who came together to make this important agreement, which is fair and equitable and will benefit all Californians," said Governor Schwarzenegger.  "My State Parks Director Ruth Coleman and her staff are to be commended for their hard work and dedication to finding a mutually beneficial solution."

The agreement, reached with land owner Sam Etchegaray, will allow California State Parks to purchase a Land Use Restriction Easement, in perpetuity, for $3.5 million.  The agreement is worded to specifically prevent any type of animal operation on the two parcels of land where Earlimart Ranch Dairies proposed to construct a dairy.  Both sites are within one mile of the park.

Colonel Allen Allensworth founded Allensworth, the only California town to be founded, financed and governed by African-Americans, in 1908 with four other black men dedicated to the principle of improving the economic and social status of blacks.  The town is located in Tulare County, approximately 75 miles south of Fresno and 38 miles north of Bakersfield, off of Highway 99.