California State Parks Recommends Local Projects for $11.3M in Land and Water Conservation Funds

For Immediate Release: 5/15/2019

California State Parks Recommends Local Projects for $11.3M in Land and Water Conservation Funds

California State Parks today announced recommendations to the National Park Service (NPS) for $11.3 million in funding for seven local park projects under the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grant Program.

The recommended projects for federal 2018/19 funds are:

Bakersfield (Kern County): Kaiser Permanente Sports Village:$3 million to construct new football fields, a restroom and concession stand, exercise outdoor gym area, parking lots, installation of sports field lighting, and landscaping.
Eureka (Humboldt County): Sequoia Park Redwood Canopy:$1.5 millionto construct new trails, playground facilities, off-street ADA compliant parking, restrooms and renovate trails.
Indio (Riverside County): South Jackson Park Accessibility:$652,500 to construct an approximately half-mile trail with exercise stations, plant approximately 50 new trees, renovate existing playgrounds and provide ADA improvements.
Long Beach (Los Angeles County): Davenport Park Phase II:$3 million to construct a new multi-use sports field, shaded outdoor seating area, exercise equipment with signage, dog park with dual entrance rough iron perimeter fencing, landscaping, irrigation and drinking fountains.
Madera (Madera County): Courthouse Park Project:$203,747 to construct a new playground, exercise stations and picnic area.
Modesto (Stanislaus County): Ralston Tower Park:$550,000 to construct a new play area/fitness equipment, covered group assembly area, horseshoe pits/cornhole courts, landscaping/irrigation and outdoor plaza with game tables.
Visalia (Tulare County): East Side Regional Park:$2.4 million to construct a new trail system, exercise circuit, disc golf course, and groundwater recharge system.

Parks are unique places where children play, people exercise, families and friends bond, seniors socialize, youth are mentored, cultures share and celebrate their differences, and everyone connects with nature. Since 1965, the LWCF Grant Program has contributed to these outdoor experiences by providing funding to cities, counties, eligible districts, and state agencies for acquisition and development projects.

For the 2018/19 cycle, California State Parks received 68 applications requesting $80 million in funding. If the National Parks Service approves the recommended projects, awardees will participate in a mandatory grant administration workshop, receive grant contracts from California State Parks and begin work to complete their projects.

California State Parks’ Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) administers LWCF at the state level and works with NPS, which administers the program at the federal level. Additionally, OGALS develops grant programs to provide funding for local, state and nonprofit organization projects. Since 1964, more than 7,400 local parks throughout California have been created or improved through OGALS' grant funding. Since 2000, OGALS has administered approximately $3 billion in grant funding throughout California.

For more information, please visit http://www.parks.ca.gov/grants. Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/caparkgrants.

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California State Parks provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high quality outdoor recreation.