parklands A publication of the California State Parks Foundation

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1 2015 SUMMER parklands california A publication of the California State Parks Foundation In This Issue Earth Day Successes Advocates in Sacramento Earth Day Restoration and Cleanup at Lighthouse Field State Beach Tim Clinton Photography Grants Support Parks Photos of the Month

2 The California State Parks Foundation gratefully acknowledges the time and expertise of our Board of Trustees and Advisory Trustees FOUNDER William Penn Mott, Jr., ( ) OFFICERS David Mandelkern Chairman Catherine M. Fisher Vice Chair Elizabeth A. Lake Secretary Seth Teich Treasurer Elizabeth Goldstein President Donald J. Robinson Chairman Emeritus Shirley Bogardus Trustee Emeritus BOARD OF TRUSTEES Michael U. Alvarez President and COO First Wind Holdings, LLC Douglas Beebe Corporate Manager, Real Estate and Facilities Toyota Motor North America Lee Black Executive Managing Director, Principal, DTZ Donald E. Cooley Ranch Properties Carolyn DeVinny Commute/Trip Reduction Consultant The DeVinny Group William G. Doolittle Partner, retired Doolittle & Ganos Investment Counsel Diana Lu Evans Senior Quality Analytics Specialist The Capital Group Companies, Inc. William H. Fain, Jr., FAIA Partner, Johnson Fain Catherine M. Fisher Principal, Fisher Kong LLP Manuel G. Grace Associate General Counsel The Walt Disney Company John Harrington Certified Public Accountant Sanford L. Hartman VP and Managing Director, Law Pacific Gas and Electric Company Wendy James CEO, The Better World Group Stephen A. Johnson Director, Gnarus Advisors LLC Gail E. Kautz Former Member, California Park & Recreation Commission Vice President, Ironstone Vineyards Virginia Chang Kiraly Commissioner, California Commission For Economic Development Elizabeth A. Lake Partner, Holland & Knight LLP Patrick Lee Vice President, Major Project Controls Sempra Energy David Mandelkern Silicon Valley Entrepreneur Rosalind Nieman Educator and Child Specialist John O Connor President & Chief Investment Officer Rincon Advisors, LLC Maidie E. Oliveau Counsel, Arent Fox LLP Larry Palmer, CFP Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor, Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management Robert E. Patterson Partner, Peninsula Ventures Patricia Pérez Owner, VPE Tradigital Communications Michael J. Pinto, Ph.D Advisory Board Chair, Institute for Nonprofit Education and Research, School of Leadership Education and Science, University of San Diego Donald J. Robinson Senior Vice President, retired Bank of the West Roger M. Schrimp Partner, Damrell Nelson Schrimp W. James Scilacci EVP, CFO and Treasurer Edison International Seth Teich, CFA Financial Analyst Spring Point Capital Peter H. Weiner Partner, Paul Hastings LLP ADVISORY TRUSTEES Michael J. Brill Partner, retired McGuire Woods LLP Kathleen Cochran General Manager Bacara Resort & Spa William T. Duff Executive, retired Toyota Motor Sales, Inc. Rhonda Glasscock Philanthropy Manager, National Education & Environment Programs Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. William Randolph Hearst, III Partner Emeritus Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers Connie Lurie CBL Foundation Mark Manguera Founder & CEO Kogi BBQ Chego Paradigm Group Gary Polakovic President, Make Over Earth, Inc. Alexander M. Power Principal Real Estate Development & Investments Stuart N. Senator Partner, Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP 2

3 FROM THE PRESIDENT Things Are Beginning to Look Different This may be the summer of water. Or perhaps, I should say, the lack of water. I don t know about you, but I am doing all those things I am supposed to be doing about conserving water: shorter showers, saving kitchen water for the garden, and planting with drought tolerant plants. However, it still does feel like a drop in the bucket, if you will forgive the phrase. I know there are those who have their hands on the big policy aspects of the water shortages. But that doesn t stop my dismay over the obvious stress that our parks and landscapes are under. I drove the coast road up to Point Arena from San Francisco recently and you can t help but notice trees are looking thirsty, water bodies are low and many creeks are dry. It would be a dry time of year anyway, but we are having unusually summer-like weather in the Bay Area. There is very little of that forgiving fog that normally keeps our north coast a little hydrated. Don t get me wrong I like sitting in my small backyard in the evening as much as the next person, but it feels weird to be able to do so in the long light of summer. Normally there would be a strong wind blowing down the canyon and at least some precipitation! Things are looking different for parks in other ways, as well. Last fall, Resources Secretary John Laird appointed a Transformation Team to implement the recommendations of the Parks Forward Commission over a two-year period. They are working on everything from service-based budgeting to partnerships to the relevancy of the state parks system for all Californians. The Transformation Team is presently deep into research, discussions, and development of recommendations. The Transformation Team has four strategic goals: 1. Develop Excellent Management Systems 2. Maintain High Quality Operations and Public Service 3. Create Meaningful Connections and Relevancy to People 4. Protect and Enhance Natural and Cultural Resources These goals have been organized into 31 initiatives that are being managed by eight committees. You can find more information about the initiatives the Transformation Team will be working on at parks.ca.gov/transformationteam. Note the starred items which indicate the top 10 priorities on the itemized list of team initiatives. This is really where the rubber will meet the road. The Transformation Team was initially made up of DPR employees, with the exception of a consultant from the Resources Legacy Fund. In recent months, the Transformation Team has sought outside members for its eight committees, especially those committees whose tasks are more externally focused, such as the Partnership Committee and the Relevancy Committee. CSPF s Vice President of Government Affairs Traci Verardo-Torres is sitting on the Partnership Committee and is meeting with the committee one half day a week. In addition, I am a member of the overall Transformation Team Advisory Committee which is meeting once a month. We will keep you posted on the progress that the Transformation Team is making as their work continues in the coming months. In the pages of this issue of Parklands you will see many articles about the recent work that CSPF has been pursuing. We couldn t be more excited about what we have collectively achieved with the Summer Enrichment Program, the Technical Assistance Center and Park Champions. In the meantime, I hope that you are enjoying our beautiful state parks. We are so appreciative of all your support. Thanks for entrusting us to be YOUR VOICE FOR PARKS! - Elizabeth Goldstein President Mount Tamalpais State Park Vincent James 3

4 CONNECTING TO OUR NATURAL WORLD Summer Enrichment Program Enters Seventh Year Field trips to the state Capitol in Sacramento, exploration of William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park to learn about California pioneers in the mid- 19th century, earth snorkeling hikes at Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, and overnight camping trips at Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area. These are just First Birds Nest on Yosemite Slough s New Bird Island Working with the California State Parks Foundation in 2012, WRA Environmental Consultants designed a nesting bird island that was incorporated into the major restoration project at Candlestick Point State Recreation Area s Yosemite Slough. The park is located just north of the San Francisco county line on the western shore of San Francisco Bay, next to the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood. Approximately three years after the first phase of restoration was completed, American avocets built five nests on the island this spring! 4 a few of the activities planned for this year s Packard Summer Enrichment program. The program brings urban youth ages 8 to 14 to park sites in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Bernardino and Glenn counties. The popular program takes place June through August and is celebrating its seventh year! The sand island was designed to provide nesting habitat for a variety of summer nesting shorebirds, including American avocets. Isolation of the island from the mainland by tidal channels provides protection from feral animals and human disturbance. Adjacent restored tidal marsh vegetation and mud flats let the birds feed in their own front yard. The project plan included restoring seven acres of historic bay fill to a functioning tidal marsh in an industrial area. In addition to the marsh restoration and the bird island, design elements included nursery areas for fish and bottom dwelling organisms and a new portion of the San Francisco Bay Trail. The project also addressed soil contaminant issues left over from previous fill activities and industrial land use. Future work at the 34-acre site includes the integration of public use areas with an environmental interpretive center, and proposed transitional and upland areas to buffer sensitive habitats. New nests on the island is truly exciting, and are a successful example of the integration of both restoration and public use in an urban context, balancing wildlife needs and human access. - Giselle Goulette, Landscape Architect, WRA

5 VOLUNTEER IMPACT IN STATE PARKS Park Champions Restore Dune Habitat at Silver Strand Since 2011, the Park Champions Program has been assisting park staff to restore habitat at San Diego s Silver Strand State Beach by monitoring and removing invasive plants and replacing them with natives. Core Leader Dan Doran has been leading the charge since our second workday at the park, when he helped with a geo-mapping project to document the extent of ice plant coverage. He has witnessed the successful removal of invasive plants in the bay-side portions of the park in preparation for the planned resurgence of native plants including the beach evening primrose. Dan had never volunteered in parks prior to responding to an invitation for a Silver Strand Park Champions workday. He had recently graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a degree in geography and a focus on habitat restoration and ecology when he joined CSPF as a member. After moving home to San Diego, he was fortunate to find a job working in IT for the U.S. Navy on Coronado Island, but he was also hoping for an opportunity to get his hands dirty working outside and to use the skills he learned in college. He found it at Silver Strand with Park Champions. The Park Champions program has made significant strides at Silver Strand. After the discovery of a rare California native plant, Brand s Phacelia (Phacelia stellaris), growing in the dunes of Silver Strand and other state beaches, state parks received funding from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and State Parks Proposition 84 to restore habitat and conduct studies Core Leader Dan Doran in conjunction with the U.S. Navy. A portion of this funding has been used to pay the salaries of three park staff who work to protect the plant while maintaining recreation opportunities for park visitors, and also lead and monitor Park Champions workdays and overall progress. Removing invasive plants allows space for native plants to reestablish themselves, and native butterflies, bees, lizards, and birds are adapted to eat and find shelter in native plants. Environmental Science Intern Mark Miller believes that the habitat restoration progress at Silver Strand would have taken twice the time without the help of the Park Champions Program. Park Champions removed invasive ice plant over four years, rented dumpsters, bought tools, and installed drip irrigation and fencing to protect young native plants from rabbits, said Miller. Effectively removing an invasive plant species usually takes five to six years of well-organized and constant effort; plants need to be removed every year before they seed. As soon as you pull up the ice plant, there is a seed bank (ready to sprout) underneath. Seeds of some plant species are viable for years. Dan would like to invite first-time volunteers to join his team at Silver Strand. You can t go wrong being right next to the ocean, he said. It s a beautiful view while you re working, even when you work in the rain, and usually we have nice weather. He is also actively looking for an additional Core Leader or two to help him plan workdays and cheer on other volunteers. Find out more at calparks.org/volunteer. CSPF s Park Champions program coordinates volunteer projects at state parks throughout the year. To date, the program has held 481 workdays across California. 3,571 volunteers have worked 6,798 shifts equaling 27,785 hours making state parks more beautiful and safe. Silver Strand State Beach Dan Doran 5

6 EARTH DAY 2015 Volunteers Help at 27 Parks Fort Ross State Historic Park s Environmental Living Garden has been restored. Millerton Lake State Recreation Area has new lifejacket loan stations and interpretive display cases. Chino Hills State Park has a new horse-hike-bike trail and cable fencing around its parking lot. And Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area has new picnic tables at its campsites. These improvements and many more were made possible thanks to 1,673 hard-working volunteers who participated in our 17th Earth Day Restoration and Cleanup presented by Pacific Gas and Electric Company on April 18. Statewide volunteers planted 1,235 native trees and plants, removed 630 cubic yards of non-native plants, collected 453 bags plus 56 cubic yards of trash and 37 bags of recycling, installed fences, refurbished picnic areas and campgrounds, restored trails, removed graffiti, painted buildings, and learned about the importance of caring for our state s natural treasures. This program would not be possible without our presenting sponsor PG&E, who provided a $200,000 grant plus 630 employee volunteers, family and friends at 11 project sites on event day. Valued contributions were also made by our associate sponsors Edison International, Chevron, and Oracle, as well as our inkind donors Subway, Peet s Coffee & Tea, Larabar, Togo s and Starbucks Coffee. The support and outreach made by our media sponsors were also instrumental. On behalf of all of our state park project sites, thank you for contributing to the beauty and enjoyment of our parklands PRESENTING SPONSOR 2015 MEDIA SPONSORS Auburn Journal BIG 103.7FM CBS2 and KCAL9 Chino Hills Champion COAST 101.3FM Dana Point Times Half Moon Bay Review KAHI AM 950 KCBS 740 AM KHITS KSCO AM L.A. Daily News Folsom Telegraph KTVU-TV Channel 2 Los Angeles Daily News Marin Independent Journal Oroville Mercury Register San Clemente Times San Luis Obispo Tribune Santa Cruz Sentinel Soft Rock 98.9/ Fresno Clear Channel Sonoma Index-Tribune The Capistrano Dispatch TV36 World Journal 6

7 STATE PARKS ARE GREAT PLACES Members Share Great Places Through Photo Challenge Thank you, photographers! Over 300 photos were submitted during the Great Places for You & Me Photo Challenge that CSPF hosted on Facebook this past March and April. The photos helped us to create an inspiring gallery of images on our Facebook page, where over 5,400 people visited during the Photo Challenge. These photos above earned the most votes during the Challenge. Many of the great images we received were used in the panels we displayed in front of the state Capitol as part of our 13th Annual Park Advocacy Day. It was so hard to choose among so many great submissions, so we created a short video montage featuring even more photos from the Great Places Photo Challenge. Check out the video at calparks.org/greatplaces we know you ll see lots of reasons to agree that state parks are Great Places for You & Me! Exploring the Ways Parks Are Great Places for You & Me One of the best parts of the Great Places campaign is the wonderful stories we ve heard from people across the state about how parks are an important part of their lifestyle, identity, family, career, and more. To help share some of those stories, CSPF interviewed dozens of Californians about their experiences in state parks and created feature profiles for the campaign. We highlighted several individuals as part of the display at Park Advocacy Day and are sharing more profiles through our webpage and Facebook. Follow us on Facebook or check out calparks.org/greatplaces to see more stories. 7

8 YOUR VOICE FOR PARKS Advocacy Updates from the Capitol in Sacramento STATE BUDGET UPDATE On June 24, Governor Brown signed the state s $167 billion state budget. While the budget for the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) did not contain any surprises or increases, DPR did receive authority for a modest, one-time infusion of State Park and Recreation Fund dollars to maintain current operations. The budget also included funding to open the new museum at Donner Memorial State Park and to re-open Los Angeles State Historic Park, which has been undergoing construction over the last year. CSPF is particularly pleased that the budget dedicated $10 million toward outdoor environmental and recreation programs, consistent with the intent of Assembly Bill 988. (See more below.) LEGISLATIVE UPDATES On July 6, Governor Brown signed Assembly Bill (AB) 327 by Assemblymember Richard Gordon (D-Menlo Park). AB 327 continues an exemption from prevailing wage for volunteers who perform public works-type projects. Current law already provides such an exemption until AB 327 extends that exemption for another 7 years, to Volunteers complete projects that are important but underresourced with public funds and staff. They provide immense value to park maintenance staff who are stretched thin. CSPF is pleased Governor Brown continued this important support for volunteerism. AB 988 by Assemblymember Mark Stone (D-Scotts Valley) and Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) continues to advance in the legislative process and is strongly supported by CSPF. The bill, which requires DPR to develop a new Outdoor Environmental Education and Recreation Grants Program, recognizes the value and benefits of increasing youth access to the outdoors. The bill has been enjoying broad support in the legislature and with the $10 million in the budget for such purposes, we believe that s a great boost as this bill continues its path to the governor. Senate Bill 317 by Senate President pro Tem Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) establishes the framework for a park bond that would go on the November 2016 ballot. The bill, which contains $200 million for capital-related state park funding and $50 million for the State Park Enterprise Fund, is currently on the Senate Floor and, as of the writing of this newsletter, has not yet come up for a vote. Assembly Bill 549 by Assembly Water, Parks & Wildlife Chair Mark Levine (D-San Rafael) and Senate Bill 204 by Senator Fran Pavely (D-Agoura Hills) contain various changes that are intended to implement ideas related to the February 2015 Parks Forward Report findings. Among other things, AB 549 encourages DPR to develop more overnight accommodations in state parks and allows them to partner with nonprofits to operate such accommodations. AB 549 also requires DPR to draft a statewide fee policy to bring transparency to the process of setting and establishing fees in the state park system. SB 204 acknowledges the important role of nonprofit organizations and removes a 2017 sunset on DPR s authority to enter into operating agreements with nonprofits to keep parks available and enjoyable to the public. The bill also requires DPR to identify its top 10 projects that have potential to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and could be funded with the state s cap-and-trade revenues. HELPING NONPROFITS EXCEL On March 30, we held CSPF s fourth annual Technical Assistance Center (TAC) Convening in Sacramento. TAC is CSPF s program to provide tactical and professional support needed by the nonprofits that are supporting state parks in various capacities. About 30 representatives from 19 nonprofit park partner organizations throughout the state joined us, including Anza-Borrego Foundation, Stewards of the Coast & Redwoods, Mountain Parks Foundation, and Shasta Historical Society. Also in attendance were all five of TAC s consultants, CSPF staff, and Steve McCormick. Randy Widera, TAC s operations consultant, kicked off the day with an informative and thoughtful presentation on TAC s Organizational Assessment/ Nonprofit Study. Following Randy s presentation, Steve McCormick, who is chairing the Partnership Committee for the Transformation Team, talked about the Transformation Team s efforts, the transition process, and the role of nonprofits. In the afternoon, Leslie Robin and Belinda Teitel from the Center for Nonprofit Management, TAC s organizational management consultants, led a dynamic and interactive session on effectively aligning your organization s work to your mission. We are pleased to continue running TAC to provide capacity building for our partner organizations. 8

9 Top L to R: Assemblymember Richard Gordon addresses advocates, Expo on the Capitol lawn, advocates listen to the morning session Bottom L to R: Great Places display along Capitol walkway, visitors stop by an Expo display, Assemblymembers Olsen and Rendon receive awards Over 200 Advocates Lobby Together at Park Advocacy Day T his year s Park Advocacy Day (PAD) was a great success! On May 5, over 160 advocates visited every sitting legislator s office and lobbied on bills relating to outdoor education and youth recreation, promoting volunteerism, and a potential park and conservation bond for the November 2016 ballot. As part of the morning s program, Assemblymember Rich Gordon addressed PAD attendees regarding his Assembly Bill 327 and about the value of park advocacy. Assemblymember Marc Levine, the new Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee Chair, spoke about transformation at the Department of Parks and Recreation, the need for a statewide fees policy for state parks, and his dedication to state parks. As part of the day, CSPF held its 2nd Annual Park Expo on the Capitol lawn, featuring more than 20 park partners from across the state. The Expo was a great hit, with hands-on activities ranging from sampling freshly churned butter as part of historic demonstrations from Benicia State Historic Park, examining water and plankton samples through microscopes from Amigos de Bolsa Chica, tasting mole from the Mole and Mariachi Festival at Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, exploring mobile education centers from the Point Lobos Foundation and Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods, and much more. Thank you to all the partner organizations who made the Expo fun and engaging! PAD 2015 ended with CSPF s Legacy Award Reception honoring Assembly Republican Leader Kristin Olsen (R-Modesto) and Assemblymember Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood). CSPF was pleased to present awards to these distinguished legislators, who have had significant impact promoting and advocating for state parks. Assembly Republican Leader Olsen helped raise visibility of the state parks system s 150th anniversary in 2014 and passed legislation in 2013 to increase access to state parks for veterans and active military members. Assemblymember Rendon brought leadership to parks issues in his previous position as Chair of the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee during a critical period of rebuilding confidence and capacity in California s state parks system. Rendon authored legislation in 2013 to encourage and further enable the state to enter into operating agreements with nonprofit organizations. In 2014, he pushed for a specific emphasis on facilitating, promoting, and enhancing access and relevancy of state parks for underserved communities. Thank you again to everyone who made PAD 2015 a great success. See you next year! 9

10 YOUR GENEROSITY MAKES A DIFFERENCE Go Solar for State Parks and Save $750 on Your System Would you like to save money and do something good for the earth? Here s an easy way: California State Parks Foundation has partnered with Sungevity to help you go solar and support state parks at the same time. By making the switch to solar, you ll not only control your energy costs and protect the environment, but also advance CSPF s mission. That s because when you purchase a solar system and mention CSPF, Sungevity will donate $750 to CSPF, and give you a discount of $750 on your purchase as well. Sungevity makes the process simple: their solar I LOVE BEING OUTDOORS That is what Shirley Bogardus expressed when she decided to include California State Parks Foundation in her will. I ve always been impressed with CSPF. They have a wonderful scope of knowledge and are addressing challenges I hadn t even heard about and I ve been at this a long time! At 22, Shirley left the Midwest to move to California, where she roomed with graduates of the University of Colorado who shared her love of nature. Her commitment grew once she met her husband, Peter. The couple settled in Mill Valley to raise their family. In 1968, they moved abroad and camped throughout Europe for 14 months before returning to California. Shirley served on the California State Parks Foundation board for many years and was a docent at Audubon Canyon Ranch. Now a widow, she still lives in Mill Valley and hikes Mount Tamalpais State Park once a week. We are deeply grateful to Shirley for safeguarding our beloved parks for future generations. 10 experts will remotely design a system for your residence and give you the information you need to weigh your solar options. If you move forward, Sungevity will manage every aspect of installation. You can enjoy peace of mind that your system will perform as guaranteed and even monitor your solar production with Sungevity s mobile app anywhere, anytime. Start by getting a free online quote at sungevity. org/calparks. It s good for you, good for the planet, and good for parks! Safeguarding Our State Parks for Future Generations WHY WE D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR LEGACY GIFT NOW Have you already made a provision for California State Parks Foundation in your estate plans and not told us? Every so often we receive a legacy gift from a supporter whose generous decision comes as a surprise. While we re very grateful, we would love to celebrate while you are still among us. We ll honor your commitment by inviting you to join our William Penn Mott, Jr. Legacy Society. Your example, like Shirley s, encourages others to step forward whether they know you or not. Of course, you have the option to remain anonymous. Any gift, large or small, will make a huge difference in our mission to protect, enhance, and advocate for California s state parks and may offer you and your loved ones significant tax savings as well. So please consider sharing your plans with us. For information about joining the Mott Society, contact Ziba Marashi at (415) or legacy@calparks.org.

11 2015 Golden Poppy Gala was a Celebration of Parks We are grateful to all of our sponsors and supporters who participated in our 9th Golden Poppy Awards Gala on June 6, presented by PG&E and Toyota. Together they raised significant funds to help us protect California s greatest treasures our state parks! With nearly 300 guests in attendance, Golden Poppy Awards were given to this year s worthy honorees in recognition of their extraordinary leadership in ensuring that state parks remain healthy and accessible for all: Jennifer Peck for Partnership for Children and Youth (above left), Justina Acevedo-Cross for the David and Lucile Packard Foundation (middle), and Caroline Beteta, president of Visit California (right). Their efforts directly benefit local communities throughout the state and the millions of Californians and other visitors who rely on state parks each year for recreation, adventure, education, and inspiration. Congratulations to our awardees. Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors Presenting Sponsors PG&E Toyota Iceland Poppy Sponsors Don and Diane Cooley Connie and Robert Lurie Martin Resorts Sandy and Heloise Power Jesse and Mindy Rogers Celandine Poppy Sponsors Michael and Nancy Alvarez Anchor Brewing Company Balyasny Asset Management L.P. The Better World Group, Inc. Capital Group Chapman Cubine Adams + Hussey The Walt Disney Company Edison International Facebook Elizabeth Goldstein and Stephen Rees Jewelry by Gauthier Kenneth and Virginia Chang Kiraly The Nieman and Emmett Families OneHope Wine Paul Hastings, LLC Roger and Delsie Schrimp and Damrell Nelson Schrimp Pallios Pacher and Silva SF Event Venues Southern California Gas Company Swinerton Management and Consulting 11

12 CSPF GRANTS IMPROVE STATE PARKS Achieving Excellence by Welcoming Visitors Through Park Partnership Grants, CSPF provides direct support to nonprofits and governmental organizations that are working to improve state parks. CSPF has awarded over $1 million since 2012 to partners that are keeping our parks open or directly improving and enhancing our parks. These grants have not only kept parks accessible in the immediate term, but have also looked beyond the crisis of keeping parks open to define a new future for our state parks system. CSPF is pleased to highlight two partners that received Park Partnership Grants for their tireless efforts to welcome visitors: Mendocino Area Parks Association and Plumas Eureka State Park Association. Their work has led to the restoration of park facilities, restroom improvements, and interpretive programs. Both organizations have also directly contributed to campground improvements, so that visitors can enjoy places to camp and sleep under the stars. These grants were made possible by generous funding from S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, the Thomas J. Long Foundation, Marisla Foundation, and others. Plumas-Eureka State Park Rick Cooper via Flickr Plumas-Eureka State Park Plumas-Eureka State Park showcases California s unique Gold Rush history. You can tour historic buildings, see mining relics, meet park docents in period attire, go on a nature walk, learn about life as a miner at a visitor s museum in a former bunkhouse, or try your luck at striking it rich at Jamison Creek. The grant awarded to Plumas Eureka State Park Association supported bathroom repairs that directly led to the reopening of group site Camp Lisa. Camp Lisa, located along the Campground Museum Trail, can accommodate up to 50 people and is wheelchair accessible. The grant also helped improve interpretive programs, hire additional park staff in the summer, and increase overnight visitation. Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area Bjorn via Flickr Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area Located among towering redwood trees in Northern California, Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area delights visitors with hiking trails through redwood groves, picnic areas, and swimming access along the South Fork of the Eel River that snakes through the park. The grant awarded to Mendocino Area Parks Association enabled them to make significant improvements to the park. They upgraded the Hickey Loop restrooms, updated six ADA campsites, and installed new picnic tables and fire rings. They also launched new interpretive programs and improved organizational capacity. These improvements led to a 30 percent increase in visitation. 12

13 Announcing June 2015 Park Enrichment Grant Recipients CSPF is pleased to announce a new round of 17 Park Enrichment Grants has just been awarded. Funded projects include transportation for school field trips, wildlife monitoring, habitat restoration, organizational capacity building for nonprofit park partners, coastal cleanup days and much more. Congratulations to our recent grantees. Park Enrichment Grants are awarded three times a year in a competitive process that supports projects or programs that embody CSPF s Park Excellence Project vision elements: Celebrate Our Enduring Heritage, Welcome Visitors, Teach Californians, Safeguard Resources, and Connect Individuals, Organizations, and Partners. Funding for these grants is made possible by the ongoing and generous support of CSPF members, donors, and funding partners. The deadline to apply for the next round of Park Enrichment Grants is September 18. Amigos de Bolsa Chica $2,400 for native plant garden upgrades with water efficient and native plants State Park: Bolsa Chica State Beach Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation $6,000 for teacher training of the Immigration Station module of the PORTS program State Park: Angel Island State Park Anza-Borrego Foundation $5,000 for Camp Borrego 5th grade environmental education curriculum upgrade State Park: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park California Department of Parks and Recreation $5,000 for the identification of protected plant species and development of an inventory of plant types and locations State Park: Mount Diablo State Park Central Coast State Parks Association $5,000 for an interpretive trailer ADA deck and ramp State Parks: Morro Strand State Beach and Morro Bay State Park Citizens for East Shore Parks $4,000 for wildlife monitoring project at Albany Bulb State Park: McLaughlin Eastshore State Park Clockshop $7,500 for park field trips for Los Angeles Unified School District high school students State Park: Rio de Los Angeles State Park State (Bowtie Parcel) Elkhorn Slough Foundation $3,500 for educational and interpretive public events and restoration of habitat with school and community groups State Park: Moss Landing State Beach Fort Ross Conservancy $5,000 for organizational capacity building for a sustainable funding plan State Parks: Fort Ross State Historic Park and Salt Point State Park Friends of China Camp $4,000 for organizational capacity building through website upgrades State Park: China Camp State Park Humboldt Redwoods Interpretive Association $5,000 for the Needle Rock Visitor Center restroom facility upgrades State Park: Sinkyone Wilderness State Park Hunters Point Family $3,500 for youth field trip to Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park for the park s Juneteenth park celebration and urban agriculture workshops and activities State Park: Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park Jack London Park Partners $5,000 for the development of a Park Prescriptive program State Parks: Jack London State Historic Park, Sonoma County state parks Orange County Coastkeeper $5,000 for the Orange County coastal cleanup day State Parks: Huntington State Beach, Bolsa Chica State Beach, Crystal Cove State Park, Doheny State Beach, Corona del Mar State Beach, San Clemente State Beach Portola and Castle Rock Foundation $3,500 for organizational capacity building to increase membership State Parks: Castle Rock State Park and Portola Redwoods State Park Save Our Shores $5,000 for bus transportation to parks for underprivileged students State Park: Santa Cruz area state parks University Corporation at Monterey Bay on behalf of Return of the Natives Restoration Education Project $4,000 for restoration of dune habitat and propagation and planting of native plants in collaboration with underprivileged students State Park: Fort Ord Dunes State Park 13

14 PARKS INSPIRE US ALL CSPF Honors State Fair Youth Art and Design Contestants C SPF is proud to support the California State Fair s Annual Youth Art Competition each year. The Fair s art competition recognizes the best of young California artists, ages 5 to 18 years old. This year the Fair received a record-breaking number of entries. CSPF was pleased to present our Youth Art Award to six artists for their outstanding art pieces inspired by California s state parks and the natural environment on July 13 at the Golden Bear Youth Art Ceremony in Sacramento. Eighteen-year-old Kylie McClernon s inspiration for her Great Outdoors 3D piece was her passion for the outdoors and the wild. It is such a unique and detailed piece, and clearly was a labor of love for Kylie. I love spending time in nature, and so I wanted to do a theme for nature, Kylie said. I really enjoy the redwoods up in Eureka. I hope to get to travel there more often. But the state park I visit the most is Folsom Lake. Seven-year-old Thomas Lepage (pictured) has been oil painting since he was 5 years old. His family visits Calaveras Big Trees State Park every summer, which was the inspiration for his state fair entry. Thomas loves to hike and explore the park. During his visits to the state park he takes part in Creek Critters at Beaver Creek where he learns all about what goes on under the water s surface. It was incredibly special for Thomas to receive the award, his mother said. He won t take off the CSPF hat he was given and even tries to wear it to bed. Thank you for giving him this wonderful opportunity. Thank you to all the young artists who are drawing inspiration from state parks and sharing it with all of us! The creative art work of the six artists was displayed at this year s Golden Bear Art Exhibit. Each artist was awarded a prize package which included a CSPF tote bag, water bottle, writing journal and CSPF membership. We are hopeful that visitors to this year s State Fair Art Exhibit were inspired by these young artists to visit California s marvelous state parks! 2015 State Fair Youth Art Award Winners Thomas Lepage, Elk Grove Big Trees State Park painting Age Category: 5 to 9 (below, left) Alexandra Rossi, Piedmont Point Lobos painting Age Category: 5 to 9 Lyna Jiang, Woodland The Sunrise pastel and charcoal Age Category: 10 to 12 Amy Dimas, Sacramento Albatross mixed media Age Category: 13 to 15 (background) Kylie McClernon, Citrus Heights Great Outdoors vase Age Category: 16 to 18 (below, middle) Desmond Bague, Stockton San Francisco Shoreline mixed media Age Category: 16 to 18 (below, right) 14

15 STATE PARK PHOTO CONTEST E ach month, photographers who participate in our monthly state parks photo contest submit amazing images from state parks across California. From beach scenes to boat crashes, these photos give a glimpse of the wide range of experiences you can have year-round in California state parks. That is part of what makes this photo contest so great! The online contest is open to anyone, so if you aren t already participating, join today. It is a free, statewide contest located on our website. Photo submissions should be taken in California state parks. Once a month a photograph is chosen as the Photo of the Month, and the photographer receives a variety of prizes, including a free CSPF membership and a Lowepro camera bag. For more information on how to participate or to register for the contest, please visit our website calparks.org/gallery. Thank you to our generous contest sponsor Lowepro and all our wonderful participants. RECENT PHOTO OF THE MONTH WINNERS February 2015 Schooner Gulch State Beach Lance Kuehne March 2015 Natural Bridges State Beach Vincent James April 2015 Sonoma Coast State Beach Mike Shoys May 2015 Folsom Lake State Recreation Area Steph Gabler June 2015 Montaña de Oro State Park Frank Huang 15

16 READ PARKLANDS ONLINE To view this or previous issues of Parklands online, please visit calparks.org/parklands-online. STAY CONNECTED Go to our website and sign up for our monthly e-newsletter and online action alerts to stay current with our work on behalf of state parks. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or blog calparks.wordpress.com. california parklands 50 Francisco Street, Suite 110 San Francisco, CA Nonprofit Org U.S. Postage PAID California State Parks Foundation CALIFORNIA PARKLANDS Summer 2015, Volume 32, Number 2 (ISSN: ) is published by the California State Parks Foundation, Copyright 2015 CSPF. All rights reserved. EDITOR: Alexis Trivisonno CSPF WEBSITE calparks.org STAFF MEMBERS Mike Bankert, Gloria Castillo, Cecille Caterson, Debbie Chong, Beverly Clark, Brian Dill, Rebecca Eiseman, Jerry Emory, Linsey Fredenburg-Humes, Elizabeth Goldstein, Nicole Gutierrez, Travis Hattori, Hilda Hollis, Kate Litzky, Ziba Marashi, Jennifer McLin-Ramirez, Erin McNerney, Phoebe Oelheim, Gabrielle Ohayon, Bella Podolsky, Jonah Punzal, Eleanor Robertson, Erland Sanborn, Georgia Smith, Ashley Tittle, Alexis Trivisonno, Margie Shurgot, Morgan Stewart, Traci Verardo- Torres, Robin Woodland CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS FOUNDATION 50 Francisco Street, Suite 110 San Francisco, CA (415) or 1-(800) members@calparks.org CSPF SACRAMENTO 1510 J Street, Suite 220 Sacramento, CA (916) CSPF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 448 South Hill Street, Suite 601 Los Angeles, CA (213) Printed on 30% post-consumer recycled elemental processed chlorine-free paper using soy ink. By using this recycled paper we are saving 46 trees, 32,680,800 BTU s of energy, 4,270 pounds net greenhouse gasses, 19,599 gallons of wastewater flow, 2,168 pounds of solid waste, and 133 pounds of water-bourne waste. 16 Summer Enrichment Program