5 wins for California state parks in the Capitol | Cal Parks
Published: October 3, 2022

The legislature recessed on August 31, 2022, and the governor spent September mulling over bills to sign or veto. Although the California Budget was signed into law on June 13, 2022, “trailer bills” with details about how the government will spend the state's budget were not finalized until late August. California State Parks Foundation worked hard to pursue our advocacy goals of defending and amplifying state parks in the halls of power. Below are 5 wins from this advocacy to celebrate! 

Budget Wins 

Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia encourages participants at Park Advocacy Day to Rise Up for Parks, and urges the governor to fund Outdoor Equity Grants.

Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia encourages participants at Park Advocacy Day to Rise Up for Parks, and urges the governor to fund Outdoor Equity Grants. 

California State Parks Foundation pushed the governor and the legislature to invest in our state parks this year through increased funding for equitable access, climate resiliency, and deferred maintenance. Below are 3 budget wins from that advocacy.  

  1. So far, California State Parks have granted $57 million to increase the ability of residents in low income urban and rural communities to participate in outdoor experiences at state parks and other public lands. The legislature and governor invested an additional $25 million for the Outdoor Equity Grants Program this year with a commitment for $25 million more for the next two years. 

  1. California continues to battle wildfires each fall, and state parks are not immune. To address this challenge, the state allocated $20 million for wildfire resilience activities on California State Parks land. 

  1. California State Parks launched the State Parks Library Pass Program so Californians can “check out” a state parks pass to visit state parks at no cost. In recognition of the early success of the program, the state invested $13.5 million to support the State Parks Library Pass Program in partnership with the California State Library. Learn more about California State Parks original advocacy for this innovative pass here. 

Senator Laird, author of Senate Bill 867, welcomes participants at Park Advocacy Day on May 17, 2022

Senator Laird, author of Senate Bill 867, welcomes participants at Park Advocacy Day on May 17, 2022 

Legislative Wins

California State Parks Foundation supported two pieces of legislation that were ultimately signed into law. These policies reflect our goal of protecting and preserving the California state park system, for the benefit of all. 

  1. Assembly Bill  30 (Kalra) makes it the policy of California that all Californians have safe and affordable access to nature when making budget and infrastructure decisions. To learn more about the author behind this legislation, read an interview California State Parks Foundation did with him on the legislation and his passion for conservation. 

  1. Through Assembly Bill 1789 (Bennett) the California Department of Parks and Recreation will include recommendations to prioritize funding to improve and expand nonmotorized surface trails when they update the California Recreational Trails System Plan.