Press Releases

27 February 2023 California State Parks Foundation grants $50,000 to help parks plan for and protect western monarch butterfly habitat. California State Parks Foundation takes a comprehensive approach to protecting western monarch butterflies by funding projects that protect key habitats, organizing volunteer workdays, supporting legislation to protect them, and providing accessible education. Most recently, California State Parks Foundation provided $50,000 to fund overwintering grove management plans in three California state parks through the 2023 Western Monarch Butterfly Conservation100

09 February 2023 California State Parks Foundation awarded nine grants totaling $138,472 to help California state parks prepare for and recover from wildfire. San Francisco, CA — California State Parks Foundation is investing $138,472 in programs that focus on wildfire mitigation and resilience — decreasing wildfire risk and improving the landscape’s ability to recover after a fire. In the past several years, California has experienced the worst fire seasons in its recorded history, with over seven million acres burning since 2020. Urgent action is essential to protect California’s beloved100

31 January 2023 California State Library Parks Pass now comes with additional gear to make visiting parks a positive and meaningful experience San Francisco, CA — California State Parks Foundation is partnering with REI Co-op to expand on the already successful California State Library Parks Pass program. REI has provided 500 backpacks that will be available to library card holders that check out a California State Library Parks Pass. California State Parks Foundation is supporting this program by supplying additional education and experience materials for the backpacks that can be checked out100

17 January 2023 Statement from California State Parks Foundation Executive Director Rachel Norton on Governor Gavin Newsom’s FY 2023-24 Budget Proposal California’s budget whiplash continues — after two years of eye-popping surpluses, the state is now forecasting a $22.5 billion deficit for the fiscal year that begins July 1. We understand that difficult times call for difficult decisions, but we are concerned about the impacts some of the Governor’s deficit-closing strategies will have on the California state park system. There is good news in the budget. We are thrilled to see support for100

08 August 2022 California State Parks Foundation awards grants to support and improve trails in California state parks San Francisco, CA — California State Parks Foundation is announcing grant support for trail programs in California state parks. In total, California State Parks Foundation is investing $20,000 in funding for the Trails for All initiative, working to improve trails in both urban and rural settings for people of all ages, interests, skills, and physical abilities. This initiative promotes the enjoyment and appreciation of trails while encouraging greater public access.   "Trails100

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 health100

For Immediate Release May 13, 2022 Today, Governor Gavin Newsom released the May Revision to his 2022-23 state budget proposal, announcing a historic budget surplus of $97.5 billion. While there are some investments in state parks in the proposal, we are concerned that pressing needs in California state parks are continuing to go unmet. California State Parks Foundation remains grateful to Governor Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom for their incredible support of state parks priorities, especially the Outdoors for All initiative, as champions for access for every Californian to100

California State Parks Foundation launches month of activities to build climate resilient parks SAN FRANCISCO (March 28, 2022) – California State Parks Foundation, a statewide member-supported nonprofit, is thrilled to announce the launch of 2022 Earth Day Climate Action, a month of activation to inspire California residents to take collective action to build climate resiliency in state parks. Opportunities include in-person volunteer events in state parks as well as a statewide DIY trash clean-up. “Climate change is having detrimental impacts on California’s people and places,” said Rachel100

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 14, 2021 Governor Newsom’s revised budget includes important new investments in access to parks, wildfire recovery and reducing the state parks system’s $1 billion deferred maintenance backlog The California State Parks Foundation welcomed news of additional investment in important priorities for the California State Park system on Friday, announced as part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s May revision to the 2021-22 California state budget. “We were happy to see increased investments in Outdoor Equity grants and coastal access programming, and also significantly more100

California State Parks Foundation teams up with REI Co-op for DIY Earth Day clean-up for month of April FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 5, 2021 SAN FRANCISCO – Today, California State Parks Foundation, a statewide member-supported nonprofit, and REI Co-op, the specialty outdoor retailer with 29 locations in California, announce the launch of virtual Earth Day Climate Action, a month long activation to inspire California residents to complete a do-it-yourself (DIY) clean-up at their local state parks, playgrounds, neighborhood parks, or even just their own backyards. More than 5,000 volunteers100