Newsroom | California State Parks

California State Parks Awards More Than $28 Million in Grants for Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation for 136 Projects in California

SACRAMENTO – California State Parks’ Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Division awarded $28.1 million for its 2026 (G26) Grants and Cooperative Agreements program. Eighty-one local and federal agencies, districts, and nonprofit organizations will receive funding for a total of 136 off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation projects.Supporting California’s Outdoors for All initiative to expand access to nature,these grants support a range of efforts, including maintaining trails for OHV use and for motorized access to non-motorized recreation, educating the public about safe and responsible OHV recreation, protecting wildlife, property, and natural and cultural resources, and restoring habitat damaged by both legal and illegal OHV use.

October 27, 2026 Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Read the Full News Release

California State Parks Announces Strengthened Mussel Sticker Program to Protect California Waterways

SACRAMENTO — California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) today announced an increase to the state’s Mussel Fee Sticker to help strengthen California’s ability to protect freshwater waterways, recreational boating access, water infrastructure and aquatic ecosystems from invasive mussels.

October 23, 2026 Division of Boating and Waterways Read the Full News Release

California State Parks Pilot Program Partners with Nonprofits to Improve Access to Outdoor Spaces

SAN DIEGO/SANTA CRUZ — California State Parks and nonprofit partners are opening new doors for underserved communities to connect with nature through a first-of-its-kind pilot program in San Diego and Santa Cruz counties. The pilot program aims at breaking down barriers to parks and outdoor recreationwith eligible nonprofit and tribal organizations to provide free access along with interpretive and visitor services in state parks. California State Parks has signed Community Access Agreements with nonprofits Friends of Santa Cruz County Parks, and Outdoor Outreach and Un Mar de Colores, both based in San Diego, on this groundbreaking model designed to make outdoor recreation and education more equitable and accessible for all.

October 22, 2026 Read the Full News Release

More than $2.8 Million Awarded to 33 Community Organizations for Arts in California Parks

SACRAMENTO — California State Parks, the California Arts Council and Parks California today announced $2.8 million in grants to 33 organizations statewide as part of the Arts in California Parks partnership. The five-year pilot initiative has invested more than $8.2 million to support 94 organizations and more than 300 community arts events across California parks. The grants enable culture bearers, tribes and local and nonprofit organizations to create accessible community art experiences in parks, with the goal of fostering creativity, honoring cultural heritage and strengthening community connections. In 2025, nearly 79,000 people participated in Arts in California Parks events – with 40% of event participants visiting their local park for the first time.

October 20, 2026 Arts in California Parks Read the Full News Release

California State Parks Provides Update on Coastal Storm Damage and Recovery Efforts at State Parks and Beaches in Orange County

ORANGE COUNTY — California State Parks continues emergency response, cleanup and infrastructure repairs to Crystal Cove State Park (SP), Doheny State Beach (SB) and San Onofre SB following significant coastal erosion, flooding and damage caused by recent large surf and elevated tides from Tropical Storm Rachel and Kelvin waves.

October 15, 2026 Crystal Cove SP, Doheny SB, San Onofre SB Read the Full News Release

Multiple California Regions to Host Free Marine Flare Collection Events in October 2026

SACRAMENTO – California boaters will be able to safely dispose of their expired marine flares at various locations across the state this month for free.

October 15, 2026 Division of Boating and Waterways Read the Full News Release

Park Agencies Establish Coordinated Closure Protocol for Red Flag Warnings in the Santa Monica Mountains

THOUSAND OAKS – California State Parks, the National Park Service, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, and Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority have established a coordinated protocol for closing parklands during National Weather Service (NWS) red flag warnings in the Santa Monica Mountains. A coordinated effort will be in effect starting tomorrow, Oct. 15, as the NWS is issuing a Red Flag Warning for Thursday morning through Friday night, with the potential for an extension on Saturday.

October 14, 2026 Topanga SP, Malibu Creek SP, Leo Carrillo SP, Point Mugu SP, Will Rogers SHP, Santa Susana Pass SHP Read the Full News Release