ANNOUCING THE 2022 STATE PARKS IMPROVEMENT GRANTEES | Cal Parks

California State Parks Foundation awards 20 grants totaling $182,303 to benefit California state parks and their visitors 

San Francisco, CA — California State Parks Foundation is announcing support for 20 state parks and park partner organizations with grants for programs across the state. In total, California State Parks Foundation is investing $182,303 in funding that will support programs in one or more of the following areas of focus:   

  • Equitable Access: Reducing barriers and expanding access to parks so that all Californians have equitable access to the positive impact parks have on health, happiness, and quality of life.    

  • Honoring History and Culture: Preserving and honoring sites, artifacts, stories, and ideas that represent and reveal the wisdom, contributions, and experiences of everyone who has called California home.   

  • Park Experiences: Improving parks and innovating programs so that state park visitors have meaningful and relevant experiences at their parks, leading to a lifelong connection.   

“It is inspiring to see the variety of innovative projects happening in California state parks by these grantees. Whether it is telling the native history of a trail, creating “senior days” at a park, virtual 3-D tours, adding more interpretive hikes, or visitor center restoration — these projects are improving our parks and helping Californians experience the benefits of their parks,” said Rachel Norton, Executive Director of California State Parks Foundation. 

The State Parks Improvement Grant Round focuses on creating meaningful opportunities for Californians of all backgrounds to connect with nature while fostering stronger social ties to the community and parks. California State Parks Foundation wants visitors to experience the hidden lessons that come to life through meaningful education and interpretation in parks. These grants aim to help park visitors have meaningful experiences, feel welcome, find it easier to orient themselves to park amenities, hear stories that inspire, leading to caring for the park’s natural and cultural history in the future.  

"The partnerships we have with state parks and park partners help us to understand the needs of parks and visitors. We work collaboratively throughout the grantmaking process with each partner to create a lasting impact. We are grateful to each grantee for improving state parks and creating transformational experiences for park visitors,” said Haley Gonzales, Partnership Program Manager of California State Parks Foundation.  

Grant funding will be distributed to state parks and park partner organizations from north to south:  

  • Anderson Marsh State Historic Park 

  • Big Basin Redwoods State Park 

  • Bolsa Chica State Beach 

  • Bothe-Napa Valley State Park 

  • Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park 

  • Empire Mine State Historic Park 

  • Folsom Lake State Recreation Area 

  • Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park 

  • Jug Handle State Nature Reserve 

  • Malibu Creek State Park 

  • Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park 

  • Mendocino Headlands State Park 

  • Navarro River Redwoods State Park 

  • Portola Redwoods State Park 

  • Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park 

  • Redwood National and State Parks 

  • San Bruno Mountain State Park 

  • Santa Susana Pass State Historic Park 

  • South Yuba River State Park 

  • Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park 

  • Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve 

  • Trione-Annadel State Park 

  • Van Damme State Park, Russian Gulch State Park 

Each grantee is receiving a grant up to $10,000. Organizations that were eligible to apply include: Organizations in a contractual relationship with California Department of Parks and Recreation, Government Organizations (including Native American tribal governments that are federally recognized and other than federally recognized), Education Organizations, and Nonprofit Organizations. Support for the State Parks Improvement Grant Round was generously provided by California State Parks Foundation members and donors, as well as a match from the California State Parks Foundation Board of Trustees.   

To view a full list of grantees, programs, and projects visit our website at calparks.org/22parkimprovementgrantee