SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is heading to the nation's capital this week to receive a national award from a park advocacy group, an honor that is being criticized by some park supporters in California.

The National Park Trust will honor the Republican governor Thursday with its Bruce F. Vento Public Service Award.

The Rockville, Md.-based organization says it recognized Schwarzenegger for protecting ranchland, creating the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, promoting youth fitness and addressing climate change.

In May, Schwarzenegger proposed saving $70 million by closing 220 of California's 279 state parks. He later moderated his proposal before eventually working out a deal with lawmakers to keep parks open by cutting spending elsewhere in the park budget.

Traci Verardo-Torres of the California State Parks Foundation says Schwarzenegger's actions have left the park system vulnerable.