Three years ago, the Legislature and key park-equity stakeholders came together to craft and pass a $4 billion parks, water, and natural resources bond – Proposition 68 – that, along with other conservation investments, included $725 million for the Statewide Parks Program, intended to ensure the development of parks in California communities that lack them.
It’s the reason why Californians in wealthier communities feel that access to the state’s forests, beaches and other outdoor areas is a birthright, while others have never even seen the ocean and have to travel long distances to get to the closest local park.
In February, California State Parks announced the grant awards from the first $255 million appropriated from Proposition 68 for the Statewide Parks Program, the single largest investment the state has made in communities for local park development.
Because of this, the state has included an additional $395 million for the Statewide Parks Program in this year’s budget for grants to nonprofits, local park districts, cities and counties to continue to deliver on the promise that California embodies: equitable access to nature near and far, for all Californians.
We believe the Legislature must continue to prioritize resources expanding access to nature and parks that will uplift our most underserved communities, whose residents would benefit most from such potentially life-changing investments.
