CSPF’s 8th Annual Park Advocacy Day

On March 8th , park advocates gathered in Sacramento to participate in CSPF’s Eighth Annual Park Advocacy Day. More than 160 participants from throughout the state met with the offices of 119 policymakers and delivered thousands of petitions to the Governor’s office- sending a powerful message of support for California’s 278 state parks.

The day began with park advocates assembling at the Secretary of State’s auditorium, where they received the latest updates on budget and policy issues facing state parks. After the briefing, park advocates walked together to the north steps of the State Capitol to participate in our Park Advocacy Day Rally.

Earlier that morning, CSPF staff set up a display on the grass in front of the north steps featuring over 150 posters previously submitted online by state park supporters answering the question, “I’m Saving State Parks for______.” Many Park Advocacy Day participants had also participated in the online campaign, and proudly held their own signs up during the rally.

Park advocates were joined by Assemblymember Jared Huffman (D-Marin), Assemblymember Bill Monning (D-Santa Cruz) Assemblymember Ira Ruskin (D-Redwood City), and Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) who spoke in support of state parks.

Mark Leno

Bill Monning

Jared Huffman

Ira Ruskin

Doreen Devorah

Adam Teich

Following hearing from legislative speakers, park advocates Doreen Devorah and 9-year-old advocate Adam Teich rallied the crowd by sharing their personal motivations for working to save state parks.

Midday was occupied with advocate teams going to 119 appointments inside the Capitol to carry a consistent, effective, statewide message on behalf of our parks. In addition to sharing information about the state parks initiative and opposing the Governor’s budget proposal to link state parks funding with offshore oil drilling, PAD participants lobbied in support of the following legislation:

• Assembly Bill 2074 (Monning), which designates a portion of Andrew Molera State Park as state wilderness.
• Assembly Bill 2356 (Carter), which establishes a buffer around Colonel Allensworth SHP, prohibiting uses that are incompatible with the existing state park.
• Senate Bill 1034 (Ducheny), which strengthens state law and creates consistency with existing federal law, the Archeological Resources Protection Act.

Mary Salas

Hector De La Torre

After an afternoon full of legislative appointments, park advocates filled the Secretary of State’s building auditorium for the Park Advocacy Day Afternoon Speaker’s Series. This year’s speaker’s series featured Mary Salas (D - Chula Vista) and Hector De La Torre (D-South Gate), who both strongly spoke out in favor of the state parks initiative. They praised advocates’ efforts in coming to Sacramento, stressed their support of state parks, and encouraged us to be advocates 24/7, especially when we’re back in our respective legislative districts.

The evening was capped off with a fantastic reception and awards ceremony at the California Museum for History, Women & the Arts. Over 190 organizations received CSPF’s inaugural Grassroots Champion Award for their tireless efforts to stop park closures. Representatives from thirty organizations receiving the award attended the reception. Recognizing the diligent efforts of these organizations helped reinforce that the work being done to protect California’s state parks and to keep them open is indeed making a difference and is greatly appreciated.

The efforts of park advocacy day participants will be felt for months to come, as the policy issues they lobbied on move forward in the legislative process. Thank you to everyone who participated and made the day a success! We hope you can join us for next year’s event!