In 2010, California State Parks celebrated its 90th anniversary. At that time, the California state park system was in danger of losing many of its most popular parks due to budget cuts and mismanagement. In response, the California State Parks Foundation was created to protect California’s state parks through funding and advocacy. Since then, the CSPF has successfully raised over $60 million in private donations and inspired thousands of individual memberships.
The Value of Parks:
A new study from the University of Southern California and L.A. County’s Department of Regional Planning found that residents within a 10-minute walk to a park are likely to have lower rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and depression compared to those who live farther away. And that’s not all: in Los Angeles alone, parks provide $1 billion in health-related benefits every year. That’s a ton! Unfortunately, there are budget cuts threatening to close our parks and reduce the number of hours they are open.
Volunteer to Protect Your Community Park:
The California State Park Foundation is an independent nonprofit that is dedicated to protecting and preserving the state park system for all Californians. The foundation not only provides funding, but also hands-on volunteer efforts to improve parks. It’s a simple idea, but one with profound impact on our future generations of citizens. We are lucky enough to live in a state where we have so many great natural wonders and amazing ways to enjoy them. By donating time or money, we can ensure that these amazing parks stay open for our kids and grandkids!
Volunteer as a Group:
You can volunteer as a group by organizing a service project and inviting your friends. When you come up with an idea, make sure to plan it out so everyone is on board and understands what their role will be before you start. You can also volunteer as a group for events like California State Parks Foundation’s Annual Volunteer Day by signing up on our website. On Volunteer Day, we partner with schools, companies and community organizations to host 20-hour events at over 70 state parks across the state of California to help maintain park facilities.
How the CSFP Makes a Difference in the Park System:
The CSFP is committed to preserving and protecting California’s public parks. One of their goals is to ensure that our parks are managed with the input and consent of their users. They do this by providing grants for research, education, and stewardship projects; organizing volunteer events; offering financial assistance for projects that improve or restore parks; and encouraging park managers to incorporate user input into day-to-day management decisions.
The Need For Action:
You’ve likely seen our volunteers out in the parks, doing everything from picking up trash to building trails. But we also have a team of administrators that are working tirelessly behind-the-scenes to ensure that our parks have the resources they need for maintenance and new construction. We can’t do this without you!
How You Can Help:
California State Parks Foundation is an independent nonprofit dedicated to protecting and preserving the California state park system, for the benefit of all. Founded in 1987, we are a volunteer-driven organization that relies solely on donations from members like you. With your help, we’re able to provide new resources and facilities for parks in need.
