Summer 2013 - California State Parks Foundation

A publication of the California State Parks Foundation
california

parklands
2013 SUMMER
In This
Issue
From the President
Parklands Going
Online
Volunteers in Parks
Grants Given to Park
Partners
Photos of the Month
and MORE
Folsom Lake State Recreation Area © Dustin Penman
FOUNDER
William Penn Mott, Jr.
(1909-1992)
OFFICERS
Donald J. Robinson
Co-Chairman
Elizabeth A. Lake
Partner, Holland & Knight LLP
David Mandelkern
Co-Chairman
David Mandelkern
Silicon Valley Entrepreneur
Elizabeth A. Lake
Secretary
Rosalind Nieman
Educator and Child Specialist
John Harrington
Treasurer
Maidie E. Oliveau
Counsel, Arent Fox LLP
Elizabeth Goldstein
President
Larry Palmer, CFP
Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor
Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management
Henry F. Trione
Chairman Emeritus
Shirley Bogardus
Trustee Emeritus
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Michael U. Alvarez
President and COO
First Wind Holdings, LLC
Douglas Beebe
Corporate Manager
Administration Services
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Inc.
Lee Black
Executive Managing Director
Principal, Cassidy Turley
Michael J. Brill
Partner, retired
McGuireWoods LLP
Kathleen Cochran
General Manager
Bacara Resort & Spa
Robert E. Patterson
Partner, Peninsula Ventures
Patricia Perez
Principal, VPE Public Relations
Michael J. Pinto, Ph.D
Advisory Board Chair, Institute for
Nonprofit Education and Research
School of Leadership Education and
Science, University of San Diego
Frank J. Quevedo
Principal, The Quevedo Group, LLC
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
Michael L. Shannon
Principal, The General Counsel Law Firm
Donald E. Cooley
Ranch Properties
Mark B. Smith
Business Consultant
Carolyn DeVinny
Commuter/Trip Reduction
Consultant, The DeVinny Group
Seth Teich, CFA
Financial Analyst, Spring Point Capital
William G. Doolittle
Partner, retired
Doolittle & Ganos
Investment Counsel, LLC
William T. Duff
Toyota Executive, retired
Diana Lu Evans
Senior Quality Analytics Specialist
The Capital Group Companies, Inc.
William H. Fain, Jr., FAII
Partner, Johnson Fain
Catherine M. Fisher
Principal, Fisher Kong LLP
Manuel G. Grace
Associate General Counsel
The Walt Disney Company
Peter H. Weiner
Paul Hastings, LLP
from the president
The California State Parks Foundation gratefully acknowledges the time
and expertise of our Board of Trustees and Advisory Trustees
The Yin and Yang of It
In Chinese philosophy, the concept of yin-yang is used
to describe how seemingly opposite or contrary forces are
interconnected and interdependent in the natural world,
and how they give rise to each other as they interrelate
to one another.
At CSPF, we are constantly adjusting to maintain a balance in
our work – a yin and yang of independence and collaboration
in the parks community. We want balance in our day-to-day
work as well as in our long-term organizational goals.
Lately, we have been thinking even more intently about the
balancing of our work for a number of reasons. The first is
that we are working on a new strategic plan. This has forced
us, as any good strategic planning effort does, to focus on
long-term goals. This is a very welcome exercise because we
have been, like many of you, challenged and tested by state
parks crises dating back to January 2008. That is a long
time. I stand firmly behind the strategies and tactics we have
used to respond to these crises, and the successes we have
accomplished. However, it is refreshing to realize we are
finally emerging from a constant crisis and reactionary mode.
I believe we are replacing that pervasive tension of worry and
the fear of being disappointed with a cautious hope for the
future.
The second reason we have been thinking about our work
is the recent announcement of the Parks Forward Initiative.
(You can find more information about the Parks Forward
Initiative on page 8.) Working in conjunction with thenAssembly member Jared Huffman in 2012, we assisted in the
development of language that eventually became Assembly
ADVISORY TRUSTEES
Rhonda Glasscock
Philanthropy Manager
National Education & Environment Programs
Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc
Jack F. Harper
Personal Management Services of Santa Rosa
William Randolph Hearst, III
Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
Connie Lurie
CBL Foundation
Mary D. Nichols
Chair, Air Resources Board
John Harrington
Certified Public Accountant
Gary Polakovic
Make Over Earth, Inc.
Sanford L. Hartman
VP and Managing Director, Law
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Alexander M. Power
Principal, Real Estate Development &
Investments
Wendy James
President, The Better World Group
Stuart N. Senator
Partner, Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
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
South Carlsbad State Beach © Julianne Bradford
calparks.org
Bill 1589 and Assembly Bill 1478. Both bills included
a requirement that an advisory board be established to
conduct an independent assessment of the California state
parks system and make recommendations to both the
Legislature and governor on park management, planning
and funding to ensure a sustainable future.
California Secretary for Natural Resources John Laird
has long championed this approach—seeking external
thinking to assist in setting a new course for state parks.
The Resources Legacy Fund, S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation
and several other funders came together to implement these
legislative requirements through the new Parks Forward
Initiative, and the subsequent creation of the Parks Forward
Commission. The leadership of both Secretary Laird and
Major General Anthony L. Jackson, USMC (Ret), State
Parks Director is evident from the first press releases on the
initiative. The collaborative effort of the Resources Agency
and the Department of Parks and Recreation to support the
efforts of the Parks Forward Commission will be critical to
its success. Equally critical will be the engagement of the
public through workshops organized under the auspices of
the California Park and Recreation Commission.
It is imperative that the Parks Forward Commission
build on the groundwork that has already been laid by
the Director’s new Strategic Action Plan Brilliance in the
Basics, the Little Hoover Commission Report Beyond Crisis:
Recapturing Excellence in California’s State Park System,
and our own work with Save the Redwoods League to
produce the report A Vision for Excellence for California’s
State Parks. (All of these documents can be found online.)
We welcome all the new Parks Forward commissioners
and look forward to working with them toward the shared
goal of ensuring that California’s state parks system fulfills
its potential to be the greatest in the United States.
As we continue to adapt to the changing climate of state
parks with an eye to a positive future, I have two special
requests for you, our members.
First, we will be sending out an electronic member
survey in late August or early September as part of our
strategic planning process. This survey will solicit your
thoughts on our draft strategic directions. We REALLY
want your input. However, if we don’t have your email, that
could be a problem! So, please confirm that you have
signed up with us online – go to calparks.org/newsletter
and use your last name and Membership ID (found above
your name on the mailing address of this Parklands) to
access your profile.
Second, we are going green – or greener, actually. We
are going to experiment with publishing this membership
newsletter, California Parklands, only electronically. So
the next two issues of Parklands will not show up in your
mailbox. Instead, they’ll be available on our website for
your viewing at calparks.org/newsletter. We will email you
when they are published … another reason to make sure we
have your current email
address.
Thanks for all your
support. Have a great
summer!
Elizabeth Goldstein
President, CSPF
calparks.org
3
parklands online
A
s Elizabeth Goldstein mentioned in her column, we
are going to experiment with publishing California
Parklands electronically for a few editions. We have
heard feedback from members who dislike that we send
paper publications in the mail, and we are listening. This
is an effort to go even greener than we already are as an
environmental organization and to reduce our carbon
footprint by decreasing our print materials.
But don’t worry! You will be able to find the next
issue of Parklands on our website at calparks.org/
newsletter. We will email you when Parklands is
published to let you know it’s ready. However, if we don’t
have your email address, we won’t be able to notify you!
So, please confirm that you have signed up with
us online by going to calparks.org/newsletter and using
your Membership ID (found above your name on the
mailing address of this Parklands) and last name to
access your profile.
We’d love to hear from you about the change. Do you
like it? Will you miss the hard copy? Email comments
to [email protected].
Thank you, and happy electronic reading!
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park © Julianne Bradford
4
calparks.org
earth day
Earth Day Volunteers
Make Much-Needed
Improvements at
24 State Parks
More than 2,500 volunteers helped spruce up 24 parks
on Saturday, April 13 as part of our 16th Annual Earth
Day Restoration and Cleanup presented by Pacific Gas
and Electric Company.
Participants in 17 counties statewide planted 1,856
native plants and trees, removed 459 bags of trash
and recyclables, restored miles of trails and removed
thousands of non-native plants from parklands. Picacho
State Recreation Area in Imperial County now has new
shade ramadas and fire pits; San Onofre State Beach
in Orange County has new interpretive panels and
freshly-painted curbs; The Forest of Nisene Marks State
Park in Santa Cruz County has new seasonal bridges;
and 42 boat slips at Angel Island State Park in Marin
County are free of barnacles. These and many other long
overdue projects would not have been possible without
our incredible volunteers’ support and hard work.
Special thanks to our presenting sponsor Pacific Gas
and Electric Company, sponsors Edison International,
Chevron, Oracle, Southern California Gas Company and
Virgin America, and our in-kind donors Chipotle Mexican Grill, KIND Healthy Snacks, Noah’s New
York Bagels, Peet’s Coffee and Tea, and Starbucks
Coffee. Their contributions helped fund each project and
nourish our volunteers, providing the fuel needed to
ensure the success of Earth Day 2013.
Thank you to our media sponsors:
104.3MyFM
Auburn Journal
Bay Area News Group
COAST 101.3FM
Dana Point Times
El Mensajero
Eureka Times-Standard
Fresno ClearChannel
KAHI AM 950
KEYT News Channel 3
KHUM 104.7FM
KIEM News Channel 3
calparks.org
KTVU-TV Channel 2
LA Daily News
Marin Independent Journal
Radio Bilingue
San Clemente Times
San Luis Obispo Tribune
Santa Cruz Sentinel
Soft Rock 98.9
STAR 101.3
The Capistrano Dispatch
TV36
World Journal
5
program report
Hidden Stories Conference – Mark Your Calendars!
October 2-3, 2013
CSPF invites all of its members and the public
to our third Hidden Stories Series conference
at the Center for Healthy Communities at the
California Endowment in downtown Los Angeles
on Wednesday and Thursday, October 2 and 3,
2013. The event is titled Folding Back The
Layers of California’s Latino/a History: The
Stories Beneath the Stories.
This conference will explore Latino history in
the context of California’s state parks. Many state
parks offer interpretations of the contributions
of historical Latino figures and the historical
context of the time and place. This conference
seeks to go beyond existing interpretation to
look at “the stories beneath the stories.”
The conference will showcase panel
discussions and Q&A in three main areas:
• Women in historic communities
and their families,
• Development and evolution of
neighborhoods surrounding parks
and Latino historical influence, and
• Issues of ethnicity, identity and place
among California’s historic Latino
population.
Conference attendees will have the opportunity to participate in break-out sessions
designed to encourage concrete programmatic
proposals for future activities designed to
disseminate these hidden stories. Break-out
session topics will include media, historic
preservation, parks and outreach, and education.
Attendees will be offered special tours of local
historic parks and surrounding areas such as
Los Angeles State Historic Park, Pío Pico State
Historic Park, the Homestead Museum, Campo
de Cahuenga, a downtown tour with the Mural
Conservancy, and El Pueblo de Los Angeles
Historic Monument.
6
A celebratory dinner, featuring Ric
Salinas of Culture Clash, will be held
Wednesday night, following the first day of
the conference, at LA Plaza de Cultura y
Artes Museum. Gustavo Herrera, the
Museum’s COO, will be among the
speakers, and guests will be offered
tours of this striking museum.
Early bird tickets are available starting
August 20 for $109; regular-priced tickets
start September 11 for $139. Tickets to
the dinner are an additional $50.
Tickets are available until September
26 or when the maximum is reached.
Tickets can be purchased online at
calparks.org/hiddenstories. The conference fee includes Wednesday lunch, and
breakfast and lunch on Thursday, as well
as the tours. Tickets are limited.
To find out more about the Hidden
Stories Series and past conferences,
please visit our website, calparks.org/
hiddenstories.
Sponsors
for the Hidden Stories 2013 conference
include:
• Southern California Gas Company,
• Hoefer Family Foundation
• Danny and Myrna Villanueva,
The Villanueva Companies
• Fiesta de Reyes
• Anchor Brewing Company
(In Kind)
Images top to bottom: Mexican Vaquero
courtesy of Edson Smith Collection, Santa
Barbara Public Library System; The Higuera
Family and Governor R. Pacheco courtesy
of the History Center of San Luis Obispo;
Don Pio Pico and his wife, Maria Ignacia
Alvarado and opposite page Passing of the adobes in
Sonora Town, courtesy of the Huntington Library, San Marino.
calparks.org
Panelists include:
• Maria Raquel Casas, Ph.D., Professor
History Department, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• Margie Brown-Coronel, Professor
History Department, California State University, Fullerton
• Miroslava Chavez-Garcia, Professor
Department of Chicano and Chicana Studies
University of California, Santa Barbara
• Fabian Wagmister, Director, Remap LA
University of California, Los Angeles
• Raul Villa, Professor, English and Comparative Literary
Studies, Occidental College
• Jose Alamillo, Associate Professor, Chicano/a Studies
California State University, Channel Islands
• William Estrada Ph.D., Curator, Los Angeles County
Natural History Museum
• Carlos Salomon, Assistant Professor, Department of Ethnic
Studies, California State University, East Bay
• T omás F. Summers Sandoval, Jr. Associate Professor,
Chicano/a and Latino/a Studies, Pomona College
Keynote speakers include:
•Estevan Rael-Galvez Vice President,
Stewardship of Historic Sites at the National Trust
for Historic Preservation
•Elizabeth Goldstein, President of the California
State Parks Foundation
•Ric Salinas, Member of Culture Clash
Ric will present a behind-the-scene look at the genesis
and formation of the play “Chavez Ravine” at the event’s
celebratory dinner.
•Major General Anthony Jackson, USMC (Ret),
State Parks Director
Photograph courtesy of Anthony Veerkamp
National Trust For Historic Preservation
Pond Farm
CSPF is very pleased to announce that the historic
Pond Farm, located inside the boundaries of Austin
Creek State Recreation Area in Sonoma County, has
been selected by the Proposition 84 Cultural Stewardship
Program for a grant of $443,245. With the help of the
grant, Pond Farm’s pottery barn/studio and cottage
will be stabilized and weatherproofed. Additionally,
Marguerite Wildenhain’s house, garden, and the barn
which served as her pottery teaching studio for many
years, will also be restored. Both structures are at
calparks.org
significant risk for irreversible deterioration, and this
grant from the California Department of Parks and
Recreation to the Russian River District will enable
the critical work that needs to be done to save these
important cultural and historic landmarks. Wildenhain
was Pond Farm’s longest resident and a famous Bauhaus
potter.
Pond Farm is the first pilot project in CSPF’s new
Models of Excellence program. Models of Excellence
seeks to establish partnerships with parks and operating
organizations to help raise the bar for all facets of the
parks’ operations, including programming, revenue
generation, natural areas and historic preservation
management, and visitor services. We are delighted
that the buildings at Pond Farm, and the history that
permeates them, will be saved so that future planning
on how to best interpret and use Pond Farm will not be in
vain. CSPF congratulates the Russian River District and
our partners the National Trust for Historic Preservation
and Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods for this major
accomplishment.
Sara Feldman
Vice President of Programs, CSPF
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park advocacy
Legislative Update
W
e continue to support park-related legislation in
an effort to represent the needs of park visitors
and supporters.
All of the bills below must be passed out of the
Legislature by September 13, 2013, and the governor
has until October 13, 2013 to act on them. We look
forward to sharing the outcome of these important
measures with you when the legislative session ends. For
an update on where each bill is in the legislative process,
please visit our website calpark.org/legislation.
Assembly Bill 150 by Assemblymember Kristin Olsen
(R-Modesto) AB 150 would entitle veterans and active
duty military personnel of the Unites States Armed
Forces or National Guard to free day use of California
state parks on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
Assembly Bill 594 (Assembly Water, Parks and
Wildlife Committee) AB 594 was originally sponsored
by Assemblymember Ben Hueso. However, when he was
elected to the Senate, the Assembly chose to keep the
bill and make it a committee bill in the Assembly Water
Parks and Wildlife Committee. AB 594 would clarify
the Department of Park and Recreation’s (DPR) authority
to enter into operating agreements with nonprofit organizations during the current moratorium on state park
closures. AB 594 would also require DPR to document
and publicly disclose the method and procedures used
to evaluate and select parks for closure, and that a public
hearing is held before the State Park and Recreation
Commission, for any park closures proposed after the
two-year moratorium, ending on July 1, 2014.
Senate Bill 241 by Senator Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa)
SB 241 would provide a mechanism for creating a more
stable funding base for state parks that would augment the
existing General Fund allocation provided to our parks
system. SB 241 was amended in early May to change the
original allocation for funding from 7 percent to 5 percent
for maintenance and improvement of state parks.
Senate Bill 599 by Senator Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa)
SB 599 would require the State Park and Recreation
Commission to evaluate DPR’s capital outlay and infrastructure expenditures and the commission’s annual report to
identify any budgetary requests of the commission for
consideration by the Department of Finance and the
Legislature. If DPR proposes to close a state park on or
after the 2014-2015 fiscal year, this bill would require
DPR to first provide notice to the commission six months in
advance, and would also require the Department of Finance
to establish a separate line item in the annual Budget Act
for any annual appropriations to the commission proposed
by the governor or appropriated by the Legislature.
Senate Bill 783 by Senator Kevin de Leon (D-Los
Angeles) Senator de Leon has decided not to move SB 783
– the potential future parks bond bill – during this legislative session. It has been made into a two-year bill and has
the possibility of moving forward in 2014.
Parks Forward Initiative
T
he new Parks Forward Initiative was
announced in June 2013 by the
California Natural Resources Agency
and the California Department of Parks
and Recreation. This collaborative
initiative seeks to address the shortand long-term needs of California’s state parks and establish
a new direction for the state parks system for current and
future generations. The Parks Forward Initiative will be a
multi-year process that will complete an assessment of the
current state parks system and develop recommendations for
a fully-funded and sustainable system, with accompanying
implementation strategies.
To guide the project, a new volunteer panel was created
– the Parks Forward Commission. The Parks Forward
Commission is comprised of members with diverse backgrounds who will provide strategic oversight and review.
Californians will be asked to participate in a variety of
different ways throughout the entire process. To find out
more information about the initiative, the commissioners
and how you can get involved, go to parksforward.com.
Henry W. Coe State Park © Cynthia Leeder
8
calparks.org
Capitol Insights
Assemblymember Anthony Rendon
Assemblymember Anthony
Rendon was elected to the
California State Assembly in
2012, representing portions
of Los Angeles County. As
the Assembly Water, Parks
and Wildlife Committee
Chair he oversees policy
issues related to California’s
state parks. Assemblymember Rendon has a diverse
employment background that includes Adjunct Professor
in Political Science and Criminal Justice at University of
California, Fullerton, Executive Director of Plaza de la
Raza Child Development Services and President of the
Los Angeles League of Conservation Voters.
“ If we don’t ensure state parks are protected
Senator Kevin de León
Senator Kevin de León
was elected to the California
State Senate in 2010,
after serving two terms
as a California State
Assemblymember. Senator
de León represents portions
of Los Angeles County that
includes Los Angeles State
Historic Park and Rio de Los
Angeles State Park State Recreation Area.
Throughout his legislative career, de León has been a
champion for park issues. Senator de León authored
Assembly Bill (AB) 31, which was supported by CSPF.
AB 31 made $400 million available from Proposition 84
(approved by voters in 2006) for new parks and recreational facilities in underserved communities. He has
long championed the development of Los Angeles State
Historic Park and is a key supporter for the future of this
innovative urban park.
“ I think there is a paradigm shift taking
now and into the future we stand to lose
many incredible natural places that protect
valuable living resources and ecosystems.
And from a family standpoint, we lose the
opportunity to share these places with our
children, our families and future generations
as well. Additionally, from a purely financial
standpoint, the tourism dollars and related
support services that they generate and
are really important to California would
be significantly lost.
”
place with state parks and parks in
general, with special attention focusing
on urban areas up and down California.
I think Los Angeles State Historic Park is
a model for this shift in focus, and I think
we are going to see more of that. Instead
of families having to drive two to three
hours to enjoy a park, they can visit one
of the many urban parks. All Californians
deserve access to parks and to green
spaces regardless of who they are, where
they come from, or what language they
speak. This renewed focus on urban areas
is welcomed and offers families and
individuals a lot of exciting opportunities.
”
Fort Ord Dunes State Park © Steve Zmak
calparks.org
9
supporting state parks
Golden Poppy Awards Gala – A Starlit Sparkling Success
O
n June 8, CSPF welcomed over 350 guests
to Will Rogers State Historic Park for our
Golden Poppy Awards Gala. Located in Pacific
Palisades, Will Rogers State Historic Park set the
stage for a magical evening under the stars.
Dressed in festive vintage attire, attendees dined
on fabulous fare created by Patina; enjoyed lively music
provided by the Mo Emmett Band and Art Deco and
His Society Orchestra; and had their pictures taken
with Will Rogers (well, an image of Will Rogers).
CSPF President Elizabeth Goldstein, Major General
Anthony L. Jackson, USMC (Ret), State Parks Director
and Awardee Peter W. Mullin provided inspiring
presentations and encouraged guests to contribute to
both the fund-a-need live auction to support CSPF’s Park
Champions program, and to continue to stay involved in
advocating for and supporting our treasured state parks.
The Golden Poppy Awards are presented to individuals, corporations or foundations for their extraordinary
contributions to protect and enhance state parks and
the California environment. CSPF was thrilled to honor
and thank the following Golden Poppy Awardees this
year:
Peter W. Mullin
Thomas J. Long Foundation
S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation
City of Oxnard
County of Ventura
CSPF supporters and partners helped make our
Golden Poppy Gala a huge success by raising more
than $450,000 for this year’s event.
To see more photos from our festive evening at
Will Rogers SHP visit: cspf.us/CSPFGala.
Page 10 (from top, L-R): CSPF President Elizabeth Goldstein and
CSPF Co-Chairman Donald J. Robinson; State Parks Director
Anthony L. Jackson; Will Rogers Ranch Foundation Board Members
(L-R): Brian Shea, Dan Cobb, Jennifer Rogers, Rochelle Nicholas-Booth
(Museum Curator for Will Rogers SHP), Todd Vradenburg, Trudi
Sandmeier and Wyatt McCrea; CSPF staffers; gala attendees
Page 11 (from top, L-R): Elizabeth Goldstein with Golden Poppy
Awardees: Peter W. Mullin, Ventura County Supervisor John Zaragosa,
City of Oxnard Councilman Bryan MacDonald, Cathy Fisher for
Thomas J. Long Foundation; CSPF Board Members Donald J. Robinson,
Manny Grace, Diana Lu Evans, David Mandelkern; Peter W. Mullin
10
calparks.org
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS
Golden Poppy Sponsors
White Linen Poppy Sponsor
Iceland Poppy Sponsors
Celandine Poppy Sponsors
Toyota
Connie and Bob Lurie
Capital Group
Edison International
Western Asset Management
The Better World Group
Peter and Helen Bing
Don and Diane Cooley
The Walt Disney Company
Airtech International, Inc.
Chapman Cubine Adams + Hussey
Emmett Foundation
Merle and Peter Mullin
Rosalind and Tom Nieman
Paul Hastings, LLP
The Power Lead Trust Fund
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Mikado Poppy Sponsors
Arnold and Porter
Cassidy Turley
Michael and Pat Brill
Leilani Lattin Duke
Diana Lu Evans and Gareth Evans
Jennifer and William H. Fain, Jr.
The Jonathan Club
Elizabeth Goldstein and
Stephen Rees
Stephen Johnson and
Josephine Chien
Jordan and Christine Kaplan
Michael Shannon and
Kimberley Rose
Munger, Tolles and Olson, LLP
Larry Palmer
Don and Betsy Robinson
Will Rogers Ranch Foundation
Paul Junger Witt
Beverage Sponsors
Anchor Brewing Company
Wente Vineyards
Are your plans due for review?
New tax laws this year have made reviewing
or creating an estate plan a priority.
Our complimentary planning guide can help.
Request your free copy at calparks.org/legacy.
Carlsbad State Beach © Julianne Bradford
calparks.org
11
supporting state parks
Grants and Member Donations Support Improvements to
Park Partnership Grants
In the spring of 2012, when 70 parks were facing imminent closure, CSPF began offering Park Partnership
Grants to assist nonprofit and governmental organizations
that stepped up to make certain our state parks would
remain open and accessible to the public. To date,
CSPF has awarded close to $1 million to 25 organizations
through three rounds of grants. These grants were made
possible by generous funding from foundations
and corporate donors, including the S.D. Bechtel, Jr.
Foundation, the Thomas J. Long Foundation, Chipotle,
AAA, an anonymous gift, and others.
The organizations that received these grants are doing
much more than simply keeping park gates open. During
the last 12 months, they have repaired foot bridges,
installed barbeque grills in campgrounds, renovated
dilapidated bathrooms, opened new trails and posted
new trail signage, upgraded plumbing and water systems,
cleared out hazardous trees and brush, re-opened visitor
centers and launched new interpretive, educational and
stewardship programs to bring new visitors into our
parks.
CSPF is humbled by these organizations and their
dedicated staff and volunteers who work tirelessly on
behalf of our parks. We applaud their efforts and are
proud to be their partner in this important work. Organizations that received funding in our third round of Park
Partnership Grants are listed below. A complete list of
grant recipients can be found at calparks.org/grants.
Park Partnership Grant Recipients
• Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association,
$6,000 for Anderson Marsh State Historic Park
• Benicia State Parks Association,
$20,000 for Benicia Capitol State Historic Park
• Central Coast State Parks Association,
$20,000 for Morro Strand State Beach
• Ide Adobe Interpretive Association,
$5,000 for William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park
12
• Mendocino Area Parks Association,
$40,000 for Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area
• Napa Valley State Parks Association,
$35,000 for Bothe-Napa Valley and Bale Grist Mill state parks
• Poppy Reserve/Mojave Desert Interpretive Association,
$5,000 for Saddleback Butte State Park
• Poppy Reserve/Mojave Desert Interpretive Association,
$5,000 for Providence Mountain State Recreation Area
and the reopening of Mitchell Caverns
• Plumas-Eureka State Park Association,
$15,000 for Plumas-Eureka State Park
• Sea and Desert Interpretive Association,
$20,000 for the Salton Sea State Recreation Area
• Shasta Historical Society,
$15,000 for Shasta State Historic Park
• Sonoma Ecology Center,
$40,000 for Sugarloaf Ridge State Park
• Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods,
$40,000 for Austin Creek State Recreation Area
• South Yuba River Citizens League,
$4,000 for Malakoff Diggens State Historic Park
• Valley of the Moon Natural History Association,
$35,000 for Jack London State Historic Park
• Weaverville Joss House Association,
$15,000 for Joss House State Historic Park
Discretionary Grants
Every year CSPF typically awards approximately $200,000
in small grants to California’s state parks, governmental
entities, and nonprofit organizations working to protect,
enhance and preserve our parks. These grants, referred
to as “discretionary grants,” are awarded four times a year
through a competitive process. Discretionary grants primarily support four of CSPF’s core areas of interest: Volunteer
Efforts and Recognition, Education and Interpretation,
Natural and Cultural Resource Protection, and CapacityBuilding.
Discretionary Grants are made possible by donations
from members like YOU. Grants awarded in the last six
months are outlined below. A complete list of recipients
can be found at calparks.org/grants.
calparks.org
State Parks
Discretionary Grant Recipients
• Angel Island Immigration Station,
$5,000 to create a new Parks Online Resources for
Teachers and Students (PORTS) education module
based on the immigrant experience
• California Department of Parks and Recreation,
$1,000 to support a volunteer appreciation event for
volunteers serving Carpinteria State Beach
• California Department of Parks and Recreation,
$4,000 to install five work-out stations along the
multi-use trail at Bolsa Chica State Beach to increase
visitation and promote health and wellness
• California Department of Parks and Recreation,
$3,500 to launch a Junior Lifeguards program at
Oceano Dunes
• California Native Plant Society,
$3,000 to support outreach to engage more
volunteers in the stewardship of state parks
• California Surf Lifesaving Association,
$2,462 to support a beach and water safety
public education campaign
• Crystal Cove Alliance,
$10,000 to support its Parks Online Resources for Teachers
and Students Program (PORTS) focused on Marine Science
• Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Interpretive
Association for Friends4Picacho,
$10,000 to support start-up costs and launch a
revenue generating kayak rental program in
Picacho State Recreation Area
• Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association,
$2,285 to restore the Doheny Whale Walk; life-sized
paintings of eight whales and four species of dolphins
• Empire Mine Park Association,
$1,600 to create outreach and fundraising materials
• Fort Ross Conservancy,
$2,228 to cover equipment costs for a new
Marine Mammal Monitoring and Education Program
• Friends of Channel Coast State Parks,
$6,000 to strengthen the organization’s
capacity to support the seven state parks in its district
• Mendocino Area Parks Association,
$5,350 capacity-building grant to
improve its financial/accounting system
• Mohave River Natural History Association,
$1,167 to purchase a projector, DVD player and wireless
speaker to be used in Silverwood Lake’s Nature and
Campfire Centers for educational and interpretive programs
• Mountain Parks Foundation,
$8,000 for a new donor management system to
increase its capacity to raise funds for Henry Cowell and
Big Basin Redwoods State Parks
• Plumas Eureka State Parks Association,
$7,100 to support the repair and painting
of the park’s historic buildings
• Poppy Reserve/Mojave Desert Interpretive Association,
$6,000 to create a series of educational videos on
Tomo-Kahni State Historic Park
• Redwood Parks Association,
$6,000 to install Native American Tolowa Indian cultural
protection and trail head signage in Tolowa Dunes State Park
• San Mateo County Public Works and Parks for
San Bruno Mountain State Park,
$5,000 to rehabilitate the heavily used Bog Trail and
restore the native plant community adjacent to the trail
• Save Our Shores,
$8,000 to support multiple beach cleanups in
Santa Cruz and Monterey counties
• Sierra State Parks Association,
$3,000 to support the creation of a donor recognition
wall in Donner Memorial State Park’s new museum
• South Yuba River Citizens League,
$6,000 to expand the River Ambassadors Program
and pilot a Junior River Ambassadors Program
• South Yuba River Park Association,
$5,000 to create and install interpretive signs
for the covered bridge and historic gas station which
serves as an education center
• South Yuba River Park Association,
$10,000 to support its Save Our Bridge Campaign
• TreePeople, $6,000 to support a training for volunteer
supervisors to teach them restoration techniques,
who will then lead volunteer teams in tree planting and
restoration work in Malibu Creek and Topanga State Parks
• University Corporation at Monterey Bay,
$5,926 to support native dune habitat restoration
in Fort Ord Dunes State Park
• 36 Views, $4,104 to support research related to the
development of interpretive tablet apps for state parks
Mount Diablo State Park © Vincent James
calparks.org
13
volunteer profile
Michael Hanrahan
State Parks Advocate,
Wildlife Enthusiast, and
True Park Champion!
Michael at China Camp State Park
W
riter and web developer Michael Hanrahan
didn’t have time to volunteer before the
economic downturn four years ago. Although he had
long appreciated the natural beauty of parks in the San
Francisco Bay Area, his visits were limited to occasional
weekend hikes. As his client list shrank due to shrinking
budgets, he found himself with free time to explore local
state parks. When it was announced that four of six state
parks in Marin County were on a state list for closure,
he sprang to action.
Today he is a board member of Friends of Mt.
Tam and Friends of China Camp, the creator of
friendsofchinacamp.org, writer and photographer for a
monthly newsletter about political decisions and special
events at Bay Area parks, and the author of guidebooks
for Mount Tamalpais, Angel Island, and China Camp
state parks. For the past four years, he has attended
CSPF’s Park Advocacy Day in Sacramento to speak with
legislators about the importance of wildlife and historic
14
parks. In addition to donating his professional skills to
keeping state parks open and accessible, he also enjoys
learning about the marine ecosystem while volunteering to
care for rescued sea animals at the Marine Mammal Center
in the Marin Headlands, and discovering new state parks
volunteering with Park Champions.
When I asked him the biggest benefit of volunteering
in parks, his first response was to talk about his time as a
board member for Friends of China Camp. When he joined
it was a small group of park supporters with no online
presence. At the time, China Camp was facing imminent
closure. Michael helped the friends group create a website
to solicit donations and garner public awareness. The result
was an outpouring of community support, and the Friends
of China Camp were able to successfully negotiate an
operating agreement to take over operation of the park.
Today the park is not only open, but thriving with expanded
opportunities for picnicking and camping, Chinese culture
festivals, and new interpretive programs. The website has
transitioned into a resource for park visitors. For Michael,
the most rewarding aspect of volunteering on this project is
knowing Friends of China Camp has been successful in
keeping the park open for future visitors.
Volunteering in parks offers personal rewards too; he
compares some of his volunteer projects to the equivalent
of free college classes in the political issues behind the
decisions made at state parks, as well as marine science,
the preservation of natural ecosystems, and the tangible
effects of climate change. While volunteering with Park
Champions, he was struck by the difference between
preserving a relatively pristine watershed at China Camp,
to transforming a former junkyard at Candlestick Point into
a bird refuge and nature trail. It’s also a great way to
discover new parks. At the time of our interview, he was
preparing for a trip to attend a workday repairing fences
at San Juan Bautista and also visit Monterey State Historic
Park for the first time on his way home.
We are indebted to Park Champions like Michael, who
volunteer their great talents to maintain and advocate for our
state parks, and also are open to learning and acquiring new
knowledge and skills to help us at volunteer workdays. The
improving economy has given Michael plenty of new clients,
but he maintains a flexible schedule in order to continue
volunteering in state parks. You can purchase Michael’s
guidebooks or read his quarterly newsletter about Bay Area
parks at wayoutthere.com.
Phoebe Oelheim
Program Coordinator, CSPF
calparks.org
stuff you want to know
RECENT PHOTOS OF THE MONTH
CSPF Photo Contest
Our 2013 photo contest is going strong with many
beautiful and breathtaking images captured in California
state parks. Thank you to all who submit photography to
the CSPF photo contest. Your images constantly reinforce
the importance of the work we do on behalf of state parks.
If you aren’t already participating, give our free, statewide
contest a try today! Winners are chosen each month and
receive a variety of prizes, including a free CSPF membership, a Lowepro camera bag, and a gift card to Chipotle.
For information on how to participate, visit our website:
calparks.org/gallery.
Thank you to our contest sponsors Lowepro (lowepro.com)
and Chipotle Mexican Grill (chipotle.com).
FEBRUARY
AÑo Nuevo STATE PArk © Sean Peck
Download the Free CalParks App
Before Your Next Trip
With so many fun things to do
in state parks this summer and
fall, now is a great time to
download the free CalParks
travel app. It is an invaluable
companion for the state park
explorer in you. Find nearby
parks and read about their
highlights and history. Easily
find the best hikes in each park
and navigate trails using detailed maps and points of
interest. Even track your hikes and share your experience by
taking photos and uploading them to Facebook and Twitter.
Go to the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store to
download the free CalParks app today and start exploring.
Shop Our Online Store
MARCH
San Clemente State Beach
© Julianne Bradford
APRIL
Garrapata State Park
© Rick Whitacre
MAY
Fort Ord Dunes State Park © Steve Zmak
Our new line of clothing and outdoor gear has been flying
off the shelves! Check our online store at calparks.org/store
for seasonal discounts and special offers. We are currently
offering free recycled notebooks for every order over $50!
Some of our new featured items include:
• The First 70 DVD,
• Local bird fold-out guides and playing cards, and
• Organic wood pencils.
Our merchandise makes the perfect gift for any park lover!
Thanks for shopping.
calparks.org
JUNE
Carlsbad State Beach © Donna Pagakis
15
State Park Events
A comprehensive list of upcoming park events can be
found on DPR’s website. If you want to know what’s
going on in parks across the state, just go to parks.
ca.gov and look for the Upcoming Events section.
parklands
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Stay Connected to Your State Parks Online
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beginning this fall, please go to calparks.org/newsletter and confirm that we have
your current email address. Reading Parklands online will mean more of your
donation dollars will go to help state parks.
Humboldt State Park © Mike Shoys
You can also “Like” us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram, or watch
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TM
california parklands
Summer 2013, Volume 30, Number 2
(ISSN: 0892-0095) is published by the
California State Parks Foundation,
Copyright © 2013 CSPF. All rights reserved.
(415) 262-4400.
Staff Members  Mike Bankert, Cheryl Brier, Cecille Caterson,
Beverly Clark, Elyse Edwards, Jerry Emory, Sara Feldman, Linsey
Fredenburg-Humes, Elizabeth Goldstein, Brian Gougherty, Forrest
Greif, Nicole Gutierrez, Davida Hartman, Travis Hattori, Martha
Henderson, Kate Litzky, Marygrace Lopez, Jennifer McLin-Ramirez,
Erin McNerney, Phoebe Oelheim, Gabrielle Ohayon, Justin Otero,
Susan Parker, Scott Patterson, Luba Podolsky, Jonah Punzal,
Neshama Rakofsky, Eleanor Robertson, Hilda Sako, Erland Sanborn,
Allison See, Nancy Shillis, Emily Siegenthaler, David Slack, Georgia
Smith, Alexis Stoxen, Ashley Tittle, Traci Verardo-Torres, Leejay
Victor, Elizabeth Zehren-Byers and Greg Zelder
EditorS  Jerry Emory and Alexis Stoxen
DesignER  Debra Turner
MOVING?
Please call us and let us know at
1-800-963-7275. Or, you can go online to
calparks.org/my-membership.
Printed on 30% post-consumer recycled elemental processed
chlorine-free paper using soy ink. By using this recycled paper we are
saving 10.5 tons of pulp (73 trees), 23 million BTU’s of total energy, 6,472 lbs
Orton:
please update
in greenhouse
gasses, 33,469 gallons of wastewater, and
of CO2 equivalent
2,122 lbs of solid waste and 9,424 lbs of carbon emissions not produced.
Moss Landing State Beach © Steve Zmak
CSPF Website calparks.org