SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California State Parks and the California State Library today announced an additional opportunity to advance safe and equitable outdoor access to all Californians. Starting this week—National Library Week—California State Parks will be distributing the California State Library Parks Pass to public libraries across the state for checkout by library patrons. The new pass will allow free vehicle day use entry at more than 200 participating state park units.

The Lake Tahoe Interagency Bear Team, a partnership between the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California State Parks, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, and the USDA Forest Service, is asking all community members to expect increased bear activity following the Caldor Fire as bears prepare to emerge from their winter dens.

ARNOLD, Calif.— California State Parks is holding a town hall meeting April 7 at 6 p.m. at Calaveras Big Trees State Park to discuss forest management in the park.

California State Parks is saddened to inform the public that the iconic Pioneer Tree at Samuel P. Taylor State Park is no longer standing. The tree was fully engulfed in flames yesterday morning and collapsed in the afternoon. The Pioneer Tree and Cross Marin trails are temporarily closed until further notice. The public is advised to stay clear of the area. The rest of the park remains open.

SACRAMENTO, Calif., — California State Parks today announced plans to reopen Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument (Hearst Castle). The world-renowned house museum will reopen to the public on May 11, after being closed for two years following the COVID-19 pandemic and severe rainstorms that damaged the access road to the castle in early 2021.

SONOMA, Calif.— California State Parks is announcing public engagement opportunities as part of an effort to acknowledge the 200th anniversary of the founding of Mission San Francisco Solano (Sonoma Mission), a unit of Sonoma State Historic Park. As the department begins planning the commemoration of the mission bicentennial, the voices and perspectives of California Tribal Nations and community members are crucial in identifying appropriate, meaningful, and impactful ways to reflect on the consequences of the mission’s founding.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. –California State Parks is accepting proposals for a ten-year camping and day use concession contract with the option to extend for an additional ten years at Brannan Island State Recreation Area (SRA). Proposals are being accepted starting March 18, 2022 through May 13, 2022, by 2 p.m.

SACRAMENTO, Calif.— California State Parks today announced the temporary closure of Brannan Island State Recreation Area (Brannan Island), effective Friday, April 1, 2022.

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—The Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) is now accepting grant applications to help local public entities enhance safety on California’s waterways and protect them from abandoned and unwanted vessels. The application period for the competitive grant programs, Boating Safety and Enforcement Equipment (BSEE) and Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange (SAVE), is open from March 15 through April 29, 2022. Interested applicants are encouraged to review the grant guidelines and participate in an applicant workshop.

The public is invited to celebrate the first annual California State Parks Week, June 14-18, presented by California State Parks, Save the Redwoods League, Parks California and the California State Parks Foundation.