Press Releases

Displaying 181 - 190 of 417 Press Releases

California State Parks and California Department of Social Services Expand Golden Bear Pass to Members of Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—California State Parks and the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) today announced the expansion of the Golden Bear Pass to participants of California’s Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)program, providing free day-use access to more than 200 state parks. The Golden Bear Pass is a calendar year (January–December) pass available to qualifying Californians who receive Supplemental Security Income, California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program recipients, or income-eligible Californians age 62 and over. Newly issued passes are valid for the remainder of 2023 with an additional pass for 2024 sent at the beginning of the year.

August 29, 2023 Read the Full News Release

Celebrate California Biodiversity Day with More Than 60 Events at More Than 40 California State Parks

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—California State Parks invites the public to become community scientists and celebrate California Biodiversity Day, September 7. More than 40 parks statewide will be hosting more than 60 special events and engaging activities all week long from September 2 to 10. The public is also invited to a friendly bioblitz competition to see who can record the highest number of species of plants and animals in California’s State Park System. Humboldt Redwoods State Park currently holds the record of 380 species identified in 2022.

August 28, 2023 Read the Full News Release

California State Parks Unveils Enhanced PORTS Website Offering Innovative Learning Resources for Teachers and Students

SACRAMENTO, Calif.— California State Parks is thrilled to announce the launch of the enhanced PORTS: Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students® website, now available at ports.parks.ca.gov. The PORTS program has undergone a transformation, providing educators and students with an even more engaging and immersive online learning experience.

August 25, 2023 PORTS: Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students ® Read the Full News Release

Pedestrian Access to Vikingsholm in Emerald Bay State Park to be Temporarily Closed for Trail Repairs

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif.— California State Parks is notifying the public that the Vikingsholm parking lot and trail to Vikingsholm in Emerald Bay State Park (SP) will be temporarily closed for a few weeks beginning Monday, Sept. 18, 2023. 

August 24, 2023 Emerald Bay SP Read the Full News Release

California State Parks Temporarily Closing All State Beaches in Orange and San Diego Counties due to Hurricane Hilary

SACRAMENTO, Calif.— Out of an abundance of caution for public safety, California State Parks today announced temporary closures and camping cancellations for state parks and beaches due to potential impacts from Hurricane Hilary.

August 19, 2023 Read the Full News Release

California State Parks Urges Public to Limit Outdoor Activities During Hurricane Hilary

SACRAMENTO, Calif.— With Hurricane Hilary expected to impact several parts of California this weekend and early next week, the California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) is urging the public to limit outdoor recreation during the storm. Potential heavy rain, strong wind gusts, rip currents, storm surges, flash floods, etc., can be dangerous in coastal and inland parks. The public should expect temporary closures within the areas of the state that are in the path of the storm.

August 19, 2023 Read the Full News Release

Office of Historic Preservation Announces Federal Funding to Support Local Preservation Efforts in Six Cities

SACRAMENTO, Calif., — California State Parks’ Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) today announced $240,000 in federal grants to support local preservation efforts in six cities -- Carmel, Los Angeles, Pomona, Riverside, Sacramento, and Santa Barbara. Through the Certified Local Government (CLG) program, and a partnership among local governments, OHP and the National Park Service, the cities will use $40,000 each to develop historic context statements, accessory dwelling unit design guidelines or archaeological resources planning guidelines.

August 18, 2023 Office of Historic Preservation Read the Full News Release

California State Parks Purchases Six Properties from Sempervirens Fund, Permanently Expanding Castle Rock State Park

LOS GATOS, Calif.— Today, California State Parks and the Sempervirens Fund, California's first land trust, announced permanent additions to expand Castle Rock State Park in Los Gatos, Calif. The $4.21 million in acquisitions for six properties by State Parks are the first for the agency in the Santa Cruz Park District since 2011 and the first anywhere in the state since 2021. The 222 acres of properties include the Robert C. Kirkwood entrance, which Sempervirens Fund built on land it purchased from a private landowner and opened to the public in 2019, leading to an increase in visitation to the park.

August 15, 2023 Castle Rock SP Read the Full News Release

Kings Beach State Recreation Area Temporarily Closed to Public Parking on Aug. 9, 2023 for Tahoe Summit

KINGS BEACH, Calif.— California State Parks is alerting the public that the Kings Beach State Recreation Area parking lot will be CLOSED to public parking until approximately 1 p.m. on Wed., August 9, to accommodate the Tahoe Summit.

August 04, 2023 Kings Beach SRA Read the Full News Release

California State Parks Announces Application Period for the Outdoor Equity Grants Program – Round Two

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California State Parks today announced the second application period for the Outdoor Equity Grants Program (OEP), which offers $50 million in grant funding for nature-based outdoor programs. The funding helps establish hubs for local activities and trips to natural areas for underserved communities. The program also empowers youth and families with outdoor leadership education, career pathways, environmental justice engagement and access to nature. The application deadline for this competitive statewide program is Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023.

August 01, 2023 Grants Read the Full News Release