NEWS CLIPS

 The opinions and views expressed in the news stories of interest do not always reflect those of the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

News Stories of Interest
California Department of Parks and Recreation
Week of April 6, 2026 

 

Mendez Freedom Trail brings landmark desegregation case to life for OC students: More than three years after celebrating the opening of the Mendez Tribute Monument Park, the City of Westminster and OCDE are preparing to dedicate the Mendez Freedom Trail — expanding a local landmark into a broader, place-based learning experience.
Ian Hanigan, OCDE Newsroom, April 10, 2026

Surfer ‘Lucky to Survive’ After Rare Pelican Attack in Huntington Beach, CA: A routine session at Bolsa Chica turned surreal when hungry pelicans swarmed a surfer in the lineup. Photos show how close the encounter really got.
Dashel Pierson, Surfer, April 10, 2026

Ocean Water Bacteria Warning Issued For Beach Areas Near Santa Monica: The LA County Department of Public Health is advising people to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in some ocean waters due to bacteria.
Mark Netro, Patch, April 9, 2026

Año Nuevo Elephant Seal Viewing Resumes After Avian Flu Cases Decline: The popular wildlife viewing site in San Mateo County will reopen to the public after a six-week closure due to an outbreak of avian flu that killed over a dozen seals.
San Mateo Today, April 9, 2026

Man charged in Palisades Fire says firefighters' actions broke chain of blame: Defense argues firefighters’ decision to abandon a smoldering wildfire should be considered by jurors as possible governmental negligence.
Eric Leonard, NBC Los Angeles, April 9, 2026

Springfest at Bridgeport cancelled due to weather: California State Parks has announced that they will be cancelling the annual springtime festival — Springfest — scheduled for this Saturday due to inclement weather forecast for the region this weekend. 
The Union, April 9, 2026

These condors may be incubating the species' 1st wild egg in Northern California in 130 years: Conservationist says '2 birds doing what they do' is great news for species.
Sheena Goodyear, CBC Radio, April 9, 2026

MendoParks Awarded Funds for Accessibility Equipment: “We just did a test of the equipment, and it works wonderfully,” smiles Sid Garza-Hillman, executive director of MendoParks.
Carole Brodsky, The Mendocino Beacon, April 9, 2026

San Mateo Co.: Ano Nuevo Elephant Seal Viewing To Resume After Avian Flu Cases Wane: Ano Nuevo State Park in San Mateo County will once again allow the public access to viewing elephant seals on Saturday after about six weeks of restricting access amid an outbreak of avian flu that killed over a dozen seals.
Bay City News Service, April 8, 2026

Community effort clears invasive Arundo from Jelly Bowl Beach: A month-long community effort to remove invasive Arundo reeds from Jelly Bowl Beach has wrapped up, with volunteers and California State Parks crews making significant progress in restoring the Carpinteria shoreline.
CoastalView.com, April 8, 2026

Poetry Connection: Connecting with National Poetry Month: April is packed with poetry. On any given day, there’s likely more than one poetry event to celebrate National Poetry Month. Ventura County got the ball rolling early this year with its poetry festival at the end of March.
Melinda Palacio, Santa Barbara Independent, April 8, 2026

The Most Spectacular California Deserts to Visit on a Road Trip: Covering up to 25,000 square miles of Californian terrain, the Mojave and the Colorado Deserts present a rich diversity in landscape, ecology, and climate, and provide an important preservation of natural and human history.
Robyn Johnson, Matador Network, April 8, 2026

State Parks to host virtual community meeting to help shape future of Bidwell Mansion site: California State Parks is hosting a virtual meeting on April 14 to gather community input on the future of the Bidwell Mansion site after its destruction due to an arson attack in 2024.
Hannah Gutierrez, KRCR (ABC-Redding), April 8, 2026

Ano Nuevo preserve to reopen after bird flu outbreak kills elephant seals: The preserve and elephant seal viewing areas at Ano Nuevo State Park in San Mateo County are set to reopen, following a deadly bird flu outbreak that has infected dozens of marine mammals.
Tim Fang, CBS San Francisco, April 8, 2026

Gov. Newsom appoints Nature Conservancy exec to state parks commission: The California executive director of the Nature Conservancy has been named to the State Park and Recreation Commission.
Pete Young, Local News Matters, April 8, 2026

Tycoon’s Sacramento Mansion Tells the Story of California’s Rise to Economic Power: Tucked amid modern steel-and-glass towers in downtown Sacramento sits a striking survivor from the Gilded Age, a house treasured as much for its historical significance to California as for its architectural grandeur.
Kendall Morlan, Comstock’s Magazine, April 8, 2026

7 of the best U.S. state parks to visit in spring: Nothing feels better than spending time outdoors after months of snow, grey skies, and frigid weather. Spring is a special season, no matter where you are, but in some areas of the country, the landscape blossoms to life with particular brilliance.
Liz Brumer-Smith, National Geographic, April 8, 2026

Wildflower season has arrived: here’s where to enjoy the blooms in the East Bay and beyond: Lots of rain this fall and winter set the stage for a strong wildflower showing this spring. Large blooms across the state typically occur after an intense rain year, and while blooms started appearing in late January, mid-March to late May is when spring colors are at their peak.
Callie Rhoades, The Oaklandside, April 7, 2026

After 50 Years Of Development, California’s Ambitious 1,230-Mile Coastal Trail Is About 70% Complete — Here’s How To Hike It Today: The California Coastal Trail (CCT) is an ambitious public project dating back to 1975, aiming to create a network of public trails stretching from the Mexican border in the south to the Oregon border in the north.
Jamie Ferrell, Secret San Francisco, April 6, 2026

7 Most Rattlesnake Infested Areas in Northern California: From the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the Marin Headlands across the Golden Gate Bridge, these 7 areas in Northern California are more than just tourist hotspots; they are also home to rattlesnakes.
Daniel Russell, World Atlas, April 6, 2026 

County Puts $500,000 Toward Topanga Lagoon Restoration: County officials said Topanga Beach draws nearly 1 million visitors a year and has faced years of coastal erosion, aging infrastructure and more recent damage from the 2025 Palisades fire.
Westside Current, April 5, 2026

Free May the Forest Be with You Festival returns to Prairie Creek SP on Saturday, May 2nd: Redwood Parks Conservancy, in partnership with the National Park Service and California State Parks, invites the public to May the Forest Be With You on Saturday, May 2, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.
Redheaded Blackbelt, April 5, 2026 

Orange County Opt Outside on Easter Sunday April 5 2026: South Orange County offers great outdoor adventures for you on Easter Sunday 2026.
South OC Beaches, April 5, 2026

Bodie State Park: A Frozen-in-Time California Ghost Town: Bodie State Historic Park near Bridgeport, California, is a remarkably preserved 1880s ghost town that transports visitors back in time.
Bridgeport Today, April 4, 2026

Springs fire burns 4,000+ acres in Moreno Valley area as residents flee; crews gain 25% containment: Firefighters on Friday evening were battling a 4,176-acre vegetation fire driven by strong winds that prompted evacuation orders over a widespread area around Moreno Valley, with hundreds of homes and businesses threatened as the blaze barreled toward Perris.
Sydney Barragan, Israel Carreon Jr., & Brian Rokos, The Press-Enterprise, April 3, 2026

Nature Conservancy Exec Named To State Park Commission: The California executive director of the Nature Conservancy has been named to the State Park and Recreation Commission.
SFGate, April 3, 2026

Small-scale dredging around North Bay cities could play key role in sustaining wetlands: A pilot project underway in Marin County could open the door to a new, lower-cost and lower-carbon method of wetland restoration by sending waves of new sediment from areas of human settlement into nearby marshes.
Ruth Dusseault, Northern California Public Media, April 3, 2026

From parks to oil fields: Plan to open California lands to drilling sparks backlash: Trump’s Bureau of Land Management wants to open federal public lands in the Golden State for new energy leases.
Carly Nairn, Courthouse News Service, April 3, 2026