A Word From The President On Monday morning at Park Advocacy Day I looked at a sea of placards with the words "I Am Saving State Parks For…" across the top and then a surprising array of photographs of people, places, and words that shape the complicated facets of the "idea" and "ideal" of state parks. It was fun to see all those facets, of course, some very sophisticated, and some very simple. But what struck me as I was looking at them was how personal they were. The placards were a reflection of the fact that state parks are a collection of places but also a collection of personal moments that somehow connect us into the future as well as to the past.
I looked out at this sea of placards from the north steps of the state capitol during the 8th Annual Park Advocacy Day. As I stood there for the few moments before our rally began, I got a little reminder that everything we are doing right now to protect state parks for the future is a sea of little actions by tens of thousands of people all across the state doing whatever they can fit into busy lives with many other priorities.
Park Advocacy Day was attended by many new comers. Slowly but surely, we are finding each other all across the state, linked by a cause. That is an amazing thing about a democracy. Those links of a cause make a strong, flexible chain that reaches from wherever we live and whatever park is "ours," all the way to Sacramento.
I was joined at the rally by some of our allies in the Legislature, Assemblymembers, Huffman, Monning and Ruskin and Senator Leno. That was wonderful. What was inspiring though were the others speaking, Doreen Devorah is a guide and interpreter extraordinaire at Big Basin State Park, Don Robinson, CSPF's great board chair and Adam Teich, a 9 year old fan of state parks, all telling us why state parks are worth saving. Wow!
Later in the day, after many visits to our representatives, we gave the first Grassroots Champions Awards to all the organizations who stepped up to stop the park closures this past summer. To hear the stories of what folks were able to achieve community by community, and park by park, was an inspiration. That inspiration should keep CSPF humming for quite a while.
And even if you have never attended a Park Advocacy Day, you can help us keep the idea and the ideal alive by taking the Parks Excellence web survey!
Thanks again for everything YOU do for state parks!
Park Advocacy Day 2010CSPF's Eighth Annual Park Advocacy Day was a smashing success! Last Monday in Sacramento 150-plus energetic park advocates gathered in the Office of the Secretary of State's Auditorium to start the day. A mid-morning rally on the Capitol steps was well attended, with many inspirational speeches. During the middle of the day participants went to 119 meetings with representatives to carry a consistent, effective, statewide message on behalf of our parks. The day was capped off by an afternoon speaker's panel and then a beautiful reception! At the reception we inaugurated a new State Parks Grassroots Champion Award, and awarded it to over 190 organizations who actively participated in the SOS Campaign in 2009. Thirty recipients were present. Images and more information about the day will be available on our website soon.
State Parks & Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act Update
All indicators point to success in our signature gathering drive to place the State Parks & Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act—or the state parks initiative—on the November ballot! We want to thank all of the amazing people who have responded to our calls to volunteer to gather signatures up and down the state. Since January, hundreds of energetic volunteers have set up shop just about everywhere including, REI stores (thank you REI!), Farmers Markets, coffee shops, community centers, and of course state parks.
The initiative has also received key endorsements from many environmental and conservation groups, and from the business world. There is no question that businesses recognize the value of parks and open space. Some of these supporters include (to name just a few), the California Travel Industry Association, California Lodging Industry Association, and Patagonia. However, we still have lots of work to do! Find out how you can help by going to our website. You can also find out up-to-date information on the YesForStateParks website.
Save The Dates!Saturday, July 24th: Join us for the Second Annual California State Parks Starring in Hollywood Films at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento. High Noon will be among several films shown!
Saturday, September 25th The Golden Poppy Gala at Jack London State Historic Park in Sonoma County. Join us for a silent and live auction, dinner and a wonderful time.
Weekend of November 6th and 7th The Second Annual California State Parks Starring in Hollywood Films at Paramount Studios and also at Twentieth Century Fox Studios. MASH and a segment from the TV series will be just one of the films shown, with stars from the series joining us.
Watch our website for details coming soon. You can also contact Lee@calparks.org or call 415-262-4404 for sponsorships and information.
Search for Park Excellence Continues…
On February 26, CSPF launched our new Park Excellence Project, a project that will develop a statewide "vision" for what excellence should look like in California's state park system. Along with our project partner, Save the Redwoods League, CSPF launched a new online survey to give all Californians—frequent park users and non-users alike—a chance to share their thoughts.
We want to know your thoughts about the most important features of an excellent state park system, the kinds of programs, services, resources, activities or amenities that should be offered, barriers to visiting state parks, and much more. Taking part of this survey is the first step toward creating a vision for excellence for California's state park system that is sorely needed. Please take a moment to share your vision today, and tell your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers and others to lend their voices, too!
40th Anniversary of Earth Day Next Month
This April 17th, CSPF and presenting sponsor Pacific Gas and Electric Company, are proud to announce another Earth Day collaboration in our state parks. This is Earth Day's 40th Anniversary, so come out to celebrate and volunteer at a state park near you with friends and family. You can help plant trees, restore trails and wildlife habitat, or clean up beaches and park lands. To find out where there is an event near you and to sign up, please visit our website.
Bid on a Subaru 2010 Outback and Help Parks
CSPF will auction a new 2010 Subaru 2.5i Outback premium sport utility vehicle, thanks to the generosity of Subaru. All proceeds will go to CSPF to help support and advocate for state parks. Subaru became a Proud Partner of the California State Parks in 2009. The auction will take place on Ebay starting April 17 and run for one week until April 24. You will be able to link to the auction through our website. Thanks and Happy Bidding!
CSPF Receives over $500,000 from Loews Coronado Bay Resort
Silver Strand State Beach continues to remain in good condition through the generosity of Loews Coronado Bay Resort, despite the state park system suffering a $14 million budget cut this fiscal year. Loews Resort sits next to the state beach, and since 2007, it has donated $525,000 (and counting) through an innovative partnership with the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) and CSPF to maintain and beautify the state beach.
Every month, Loews donates a small portion of each guest's bill into the Loews Environmental Fund which is administered by CSPF. This fund allows the state beach to proceed with maintenance, conservation and beautifying projects. Some of these completed projects include:
· Interpretive signs about the beach seaweed, grunion, and birds at eight major pedestrian points
· Restoration of Lifeguard Tower
· Painting of murals by local nonprofit group KidsArt inside tunnel #1
· Large interpretive signs at beach headquarters
· Restoration of Sand Wall at parking lots
· Rehabilitation of bathroom #1
· Enhanced tunnel lights
Other continuing projects include the formation of a kayak tour and an educational dune boardwalk. Also, Loews has kindly donated another $50,000 to Silver Strand State Beach outside of the projects, for general operating use. CSPF commends Loews Coronado Bay Resort for its strong commitment to the local area and upholding its Good Neighbor Policy even through a tough economic environment. CSPF and DPR hope to expand this unique idea to other state parks and state beaches in California.
