Launched in collaboration with California’s First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, California State Parks Foundation’s Pathways to Parks is a comprehensive initiative to introduce and advocate for solutions that increase equitable access to California’s state parks. Together, we have worked to achieve the following impact: strengthening our Access for All coalition and mobilizing around key policy solutions such as expanding the national Every Kid Outdoors program to state parks; deepening our engagement with our coalition as we work to understand the current state of culturally relevant outdoor education and how it may be expanded to further our Pathways to Parks agenda and meet emerging needs due to COVID-19; and evaluating scalable program models to impactfully engage youth in state parks experiences that lead to measurable health and wellness outcomes.
Grandmaking to Increase Youth Access to Parks
California State Parks Foundation granted $130,000, bringing 5,736 youth (57% from low-income households) into state parks, highlighting service gaps in the Central Coast and Central Valley.
Research on California State Parks: A Valuable Resource for Youth Health
We partnered with UCLA's Institute of the Environment and Sustainability to study state park access, reviewing outdoor benefits for you, analyzing visitor demographics, and surveying 22 million Californians, including 5 million under 18 years old.
Continued Grantmaking to Increase Learning on Youth Access to Parks
We funded 27 programs with $259,500, providing California state park experiences to 2,700+ youth, with over 50% Hispanic and Latino/a/e/x, 15% Black, 50% aged 15-18, and 30% aged 10-14.
First Policy Forum
At our first-of-its-kind Policy Forum, the First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom announced her partnership on the Pathways to Parks initiative. We presented the research results from our work with UCLA.
A gathering with the First Partner and Youth in Los Angeles
We convened a meeting in Los Angeles with the First Partner, California State Parks, and stakeholders to discuss increasing outdoor access for underserved youth as a public health solution.
Access for All in California’s State Budget
With the pandemic impacting California's budget, we mobilized advocates to protect state park funding, successfully restoring $20 million in youth outdoor equity grants in the final 2020-21 budget.
Armando Quntero Named Director of California State Parks
Armando Quintero was appointed Director of the California State Parks on August 18th, 2020.
Second Policy Forum
Our second policy Forum brought together park stakeholders, policy experts, legislative staff, and leaders to address youth park access, public health, and climate change. Speakers included the First Partner, California State Parks Director Armando Quintero, and more.
A State Budget for Parks to Support Park Pass Programs
In the May 2021-22 state budget revision, substantial investments were made in state parks, including for youth access. This comprised $9 million for youth programs, library partnerships, CalWORKs access, and funding for 6.1 million public school students to visit state parks.
Legislation signed Establishing Parks Pass Programs
Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 148 into law, establishing the California State Parks Adventure Pass, waiving day-use fees for fourth graders and their families at 19 state parks for a full year. Senate Bill 129, allocated $5.6 million for this program and $3 million for the State Library Park Pass, enabling library patrons to access state parks for free.
California State Park Adventure Pass Public Launch for Forth Graders and their Families
California State Parks launched the State Park Adventure Pass. To date, over 41,000 students have received a pass.
Annual Day Use Pass Program for CalWORKs Families
California State Parks and the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) made it easier for CalWORKs families to receive a free annual Golden Bear Pass. To date, more than 61,000 Golden Bear Passes have been distributed to Californians – compared to an average of 2,500 passes before this partnership.
Library Card Holders Can Visit State Parks for Free
California State Parks and the California State Library launched the California State Library Pass during National Library Week. Each library branch received at least three California State Library Parks Pass hangtags fir patrons to borrow.
Backpacks and Materials Sent to Libraries to Check Out with Library Parks Pass
California State Parks Foundation and REI Co-op provided educational and experience materials to check out along with a California State Library Parks Pass. REI provided 50 backpacks, and California State Parks Foundation supplied materials like binoculars, California tree and wildflower guides, hand lenses, compasses, and more in the packs.
Funding to Increase California State Library Parks Passes in Libraries
The library pass program has been so well-received that Governor Newsom allocated an additional $13.5 million, resulting in 28,000 more passes. To date, a total of 33,000 passes have been placed in more than 1,100 public library branches throughout the state. Libraries report that this is one of the most checked-out items.
Expansion of the Golden Bear Pass for Native nations
California State Parks and the California Department of Social Services announced the expansion of the Golden Bear Pass to participants of California's Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.
Two Important Outdoor Access Bills Pass in California
Senate Bill 668 (Dodd) authorized the California Department of Parks and Recreation to enter into operating agreements with qualified nonprofit organizations. This protects nonprofit park operators, such as Friends of China Camp and many others, that are a vital part of the state park ecosystem. Assembly Bill 1150 (Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife) established a community access pilot program for nonprofits that provide programs and services for communities with barriers to accessing state parks and beaches. This increases equitable access to state parks and expands capacity for organizations to deliver programming where it has the most impact.
California State Library Parks Pass at Risk
Ongoing funding for the popular California State Library Parks Pass was not included in Governor Newsom’s proposed fiscal year 2025 budget. This means that if the state budget is not amended to include this funding, the program will cease in December 2024, once the 34,000 passes currently deployed in California public libraries expire.
