CA state parks to receive $24.8 million for outdoor recreation
By SDCN Editor
Sacrament, CA–California State Parks will receive $24.8 million for state-established outdoor recreation priority projects from the Federal Fiscal Year 2023 Land and Water Conservation Fund, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland said.
“California State Parks is thrilled to be receiving a portion of this federal funding as public demand for access to outdoor recreation continues to grow every year,” said Armando Quintero, California State Parks Director. “The department received a large number of applications for funds and will be working to prioritize those with the greatest need in the coming months.”
In anticipation of this funding, state parks conducted an extensive statewide competitive grant application process resulting in 77 applications requesting approximately $154.5 million. Applications received by the June 2023 deadline are currently under review and will be funded by this recent allocation.
Since its inception in 1965, the Land and Water Conservation Fund program in California has funded more than 1,600 projects totaling $360.9 million.
San Francisco Bayview Park Improvement received $375,225 to construct a new physical fitness path, exercise equipment, play structures, gathering/picnic, and BBQ area, and improve existing pedestrian access points within Bay View Playground in the City of San Francisco.
The City of Kerman Eastside Community Park will receive $2,500,000 to create a new 15.6-acre Eastside Community Park. The city will construct a natural lake area with an educational interpretive trail, a regulation-sized combination soccer field and baseball field, ADA nature-themed playground, a water spray park, a park course, and a community garden.
The City of South Gate Urban Orchard will receive $3,000,000 to construct a new Urban Orchard Park. The project will include a new playground, walking path and bikeway, exercise equipment, community garden, and restrooms.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund grants provide funding for the acquisition or development of land to create new outdoor recreation opportunities for the health and wellness of Californians.
The program is in line with the Outdoor Access for All initiative advocated by Governor Gavin Newsom, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and the Natural Resources Agency’s Outdoors for All initiative.
The effort expands outdoor access to all Californians through focused investments in open space infrastructure, outdoor programming, and improvements to permit applications, with a priority on expanding access in underserved communities.
