Parks California

TO HELP STRENGTHEN PARKS.

IN 2021, NEW PARTNERSHIPS SPROUTED, AND EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS GREW DEEPER ROOTS AS WE ENGAGED WITH A NETWORK THAT SHARES OUR VISION FOR WELCOMING, INCLUSIVE, AND CLIMATE-RESILIENT PARKS. WITH A DONATION OF MORE THAN $70,000 IN EQUIPMENT, IN-KIND DONATIONS AND DIRECT FUNDS TO CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS, MANY OF THE EFFORTS YOU'RE ABOUT TO READ ABOUT BELOW CAME TO FRUITION AND SCALED TO REACH EVEN MORE PEOPLE AND PLACES.WE INVITE YOU TO EXPLORE OUR HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2021 AND CELEBRATE THESE COLLABORATIVE, MOMENTOUS ACHIEVEMENTS BY OUR SIDE.PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.INNOVATING THE STATE PARK FIELD TRIP WITH PASSPORTS:WHEN IN-PERSON FIELD TRIPS FOR STUDENTS WERE LIMITED AS A RESULT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, PARKS CALIFORNIA PARTNERED WITH PASSPORTS TO OFFER VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON FIELD TRIPS THAT INCREASE EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE ACCESS TO CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS FOR K-12 STUDENTS AND TEACHERS. -DESPITE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS IN 2021, 2,600 STUDENTS SIGNED FOR PASSPORTS FIELD TRIPS IN 2022-4500 ONLINE PORTS SESSIONS WERE BOOKED IN 2021 USING THE NEW LOGISTICS SOFTWARE, REACHING APPROX. 112,500 STUDENTS-THE PARTNERSHIP CONTINUES TO OFFER GRANT FUNDING FOR EDUCATORS EAGER TO HOST FIELD TRIPS THAT SUPPORT STUDENT LEARNING ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL, SCIENTIFIC, CULTURAL, AND HISTORICAL ELEMENTS OF CALIFORNIA.EXPANDING PROGRAMS IN URBAN PARKS:DID YOU KNOW THAT FOR TWO-THIRDS OF CALIFORNIA'S POPULATION, THEIR FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH NATURE IS LIKELY IN AN URBAN PARK NEAR WHERE THEY LIVE? AS A NEW FOCUS IN 2021, PARKS CALIFORNIA MADE GRANTS TO PROJECTS AND NONPROFITS IN SAN FRANCISCO, LOS ANGELES, AND SAN DIEGO TO INCREASE COMMUNITY-DRIVEN PARK PROGRAMMING IN HIGH-DENSITY AREAS. -IN SAN FRANCISCO'S CANDLESTICK POINT STATE RECREATION AREA, WE CONVENED A GROUP OF NONPROFIT AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO CONNECT SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE PARK AND FUND ART AND SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS-IN LOS ANGELES STATE HISTORIC PARK AND THE BOWTIE PROJECT, THE BOWTIE YOUTH COUNCIL FACILITATED DISCUSSIONS FROM 2020 TO 2021 ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FUTURE BOWTIE PARK. AFTER PRESENTING THEIR FINDINGS AND POLICY DEMANDS, CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS RESPONDED WITH THESE COMMITMENTS-BORDER FIELD STATE PARK (LOCATED AT THE SAN DIEGO-TIJUANA INTERNATIONAL BORDER) CREATED THE DIVIDED TOGETHER PODCAST SERIES ALONG WITH A MOBILE AND WEB APP THAT ALLOWS USERS TO TAKE A SELF-GUIDED VIRTUAL TOUR THROUGH THE PARK. IT OFFERS A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE THAT TIES THE LAND TO ITS PEOPLE, INCLUDING STORIES FROM THE KUMEYAAY PEOPLE - THE FIRST PEOPLE OF THIS AREA.REIMAGINING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR PARKS:AFTER THE WILDFIRES OF 2020, CALIFORNIA'S FIRST AND OLDEST PARK, BIG BASIN REDWOODS STATE PARK, WAS DEVASTATED. THE COLLABORATIVE REIMAGINING BIG BASIN PROJECT EXPLORES CRITICAL QUESTIONS THAT ALL PARKS FACE, SUCH AS, "HOW WILL PARKS NEED TO EVOLVE AND CHANGE OVER THE NEXT 100 YEARS TO BE CLIMATE-READY AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL? HOW CAN WE PRIORITIZE DIVERSE STORIES AND VISITOR EXPERIENCES SO THAT ALL FEEL WELCOMED IN OUR STATE PARKS?"-PARKS CALIFORNIA CONTINUES TO PROVIDE CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND WILDFIRE RESILIENCE PLANNING AND RECOVERY SUPPORT SERVICES TO BIG BASIN REDWOODS STATE PARK-THIS PROJECT REMAINS AN OPPORTUNITY TO THINK HOLISTICALLY ABOUT CALIFORNIA'S TREASURED REDWOOD ECOSYSTEM, AND HOW TO BEST BALANCE PROTECTING THESE MAGNIFICENT PLACES WHILE ENSURING ALL PEOPLE GET THE CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THEM-WHILE THE WILDFIRES WERE TRAGIC, REIMAGINING BIG BASIN IS AN ONGOING OPPORTUNITY TO MODEL INNOVATIVE CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND CREATE AN APPROACH THAT ALLOWS NOT ONLY BIG BASIN, BUT ALL PARKS, TO FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY FOR THE LONG TERM.EXPANDING CAREER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE OUTDOORS:ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO ENSURE PARKS ARE CARED FOR CENTURIES TO COME IS TO NURTURE A MORE DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE WITHIN CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS. THE PARKS CALIFORNIA NATURAL RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP CAREER PATHWAYS GRANT INVESTS IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF PEOPLE CARING FOR AND PROTECTING OUTDOOR SPACES BY PROVIDING JOB TRAINING SKILLS, MENTORSHIP, AND CAREER EXPOSURE IN THE NATURAL RESOURCES FIELD. -TO SUPPORT PATHWAYS FOR A MORE DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE, PARKS CALIFORNIA ANNOUNCED SIX INAUGURAL RECIPIENTS OF THE GRANTS IN 2021. EACH GRANTEE RECEIVED UP TO $30K AND WILL RECEIVE RENEWED FUNDING FOR A SECOND YEAR IN 2022 TO FOSTER GREATER PEER LEARNING, NONPROFIT TO STATE LEARNING-WITH AN INTENTION TO PROVIDE PROGRAMMING TO TRADITIONALLY UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES, WE'RE PROUD THAT 83% OF OUR GRANTEES IDENTIFIED AS BLACK, INDIGENOUS AND PEOPLE OF COLOR-ALL GRANTEES REPORTED STRENGTHENED RELATIONSHIPS WITH CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS - INCLUDING 80% OF GRANTEES WHO SHARED EXAMPLES OF FINDING POSITIONS WITH CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS, THE GRANTEE ORGANIZATION OR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THEIR REGIONAL NETWORKS AFTER THE 2021 TRAINING PROGRAM.UPLIFTING UNTOLD STORIES OF PUBLIC LANDS:CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS REPRESENT AN ARRAY OF NATURAL, HISTORICAL, AND CULTURAL LANDS, EACH WITH THEIR OWN BEAUTIFUL TAPESTRY OF HISTORY AND STORIES - MANY OF WHICH ONLY CAPTURE THE EUROPEAN-SETTLER PERSPECTIVE. THIS OMISSION LEAVES BEHIND NARRATIVES OF PEOPLE WHO STOOD IN THESE PLACES LONG BEFORE THEY BECAME THE PLACES THEY'RE KNOWN FOR TODAY. PARKS CALIFORNIA'S UNTOLD STORIES INITIATIVE INCREASES THE REPRESENTATION OF THESE LAYERED HISTORIES, AMPLIFIES THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS, AND USES THEM AS ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE PARKS MORE WELCOMING AND INCLUSIVE.-PARKS CALIFORNIA, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COALITION OF SITES OF CONSCIENCE, SUPPORTS PARK INTERPRETATIVE STAFF TO ENSURE THEY FEEL EQUIPPED TO GREET VISITORS WITH DYNAMIC TOOLS TO NAVIGATE DIFFICULT HISTORIES, FOSTER DIALOGUE, AND SPARK CIVIC ACTION-IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE YUROK TRIBE, WE CELEBRATED THE RENAMING OF PATRICK'S POINT STATE PARK TO ITS HISTORICALLY-CORRECT NAME, SUE-MEG STATE PARK. THE PROFOUND VIRTUAL EVENT CENTERED THE VOICES OF TRIBAL COMMUNITIES WHO SPOKE ABOUT INDIGENOUS LAND RIGHTS AND THE YUROK TRIBE'S LONG-STANDING HISTORY SUE-MEG STATE PARK-WE'RE PREPARING TO ROLL OUT THE CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS ADVENTURER APP TO PROVIDE VISITORS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE INTERACTIVE MAPS, PARK TOURS, VIRTUAL ENACTMENTS AND REALISTIC RENDERINGS OF HISTORICAL PARK ELEMENTS.REDUCING TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS TO PARKS:EVERY PERSON IN CALIFORNIA DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW A LIFELONG CONNECTION WITH NATURE. THE PARKS CALIFORNIA ROUTE TO PARKS GRANTS PROGRAM SUPPORTS COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS REDUCING TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS AND ENSURING MORE PEOPLE GET TO EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS.-ROUTE TO PARKS COMPLETED ITS SECOND GRANT CYCLE IN OCTOBER 2021, AWARDING AN ADDITIONAL 20 GRANTEES $15,000 ON AVERAGE FOR 2022. THIS FUNDING WILL SUPPORT PROGRAMS THAT INCREASE VISITS TO AND PARTICIPATION IN STATE PARKS FOR FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP-THESE PROGRAMS, LOCATED STATEWIDE, ARE EXPECTED TO SERVE MORE THAN 3,600 NEW PARK VISITORS FROM HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES-PROGRAMS SUPPORTED THROUGH THIS GRANT OPPORTUNITY ARE CREATING A LASTING IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY: -48% OF PARTICIPANTS VISITED THE PARK FOR THE FIRST-TIME-69% EXPRESSED A HIGH INTEREST IN SPENDING MORE TIME IN PARKS, AND -83% OF SURVEYED PARTICIPANTS STATED THEIR INTEREST IN VISITING ADDITIONAL PARKS.INVESTING IN OPPORTUNITIES TO PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES:CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS INCLUDES 1.6 MILLION ACRES, MORE THAN 280 MILES OF COASTLINE (THAT'S 1/4 OF CALIFORNIA'S COASTLINE!) AND 625 MILES OF LAKE AND RIVER FRONTAGE - AND HOW WE CARE FOR THESE SPACES TODAY WILL HAVE RIPPLE EFFECTS FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CALIFORNIA STATE PARK'S NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION AND PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS THE STATE, OUR PROGRAMS HAVE INITIATED THE AMBITIOUS TASK OF ACCELERATING AND SCALING RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP TO MATCH CHALLENGES SUCH AS CLIMATE CHANGE, URBANIZATION, INVASIVE SPECIES, POPULATION INCREASES, AND MORE. -PARKS CALIFORNIA PARTNERED ON THE LAUNCH OF CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS' SEA LEVEL RISE ADAPTATION STRATEGY - A SET OF SCALABLE, STATEWIDE TOOLS TO ADDRESS SEA-LEVEL RISE AND PROTECT RESOURCES AND PUBLIC ACCESS FOR TREASURED PARKS-THROUGH VARIOUS TOOLS AND COMMUNITY SCIENCE EVENTS, WE SET UP WILDLIFE MONITORING TO IDENTIFY SPECIES WITHIN PARKS, WHICH IN TURN ALLOWS PARK SCIENTISTS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WILDLIFE POPULATIONS AND BEHAVIOR - AND HOW TO BEST CARE FOR THEM. -OUR PARTNERSHIP LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE EARLY DETECTION RAPID RESPONSE TOOLS FOR TACKLING INVASIVE SPECIES. NOW, PARKS CALIFORNIA OFFERS TRAINING TO PARKS ACROSS THE STATE TO SUPPORT THE MANAGEMENT OF INVASIVE SPECIES THAT CAN BE HARMFUL TO CALIFORNIA'S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.