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Park Partners Responding toPark NeedsCalifornia’s 150-year parks legacy has been createdthrough the actions of nearly 1,000 public agencies andnonprofits. These park partners reflect the diversity of thestate’s park needs: Local agencies — provide close-to-home heavilybuilt-out active recreation facilities, such as sportscourts/fields and community centers (plus somebroader open space roles) — includes city, county,special district/recreation districts.Regional agencies — conserve larger landscapes/habitats and provide hiking, camping, etc. in largeopen spaces — includes regional park and openspace districts and joint powers agencies.State agencies — preserve significant natural andcultural areas. Facility development in State Parks,by law, must complement parks’ natural/culturalintegrity. The Department of Fish & Wildlife, 10 stateconservancies, CALFIRE’s forest areas, lands of theDepartment of Water Resources, the State LandsCommission, and state university preserves allprotect fish and wildlife resources, forests, and broadareas of public land.Federal agencies — primarily conserve iconicnatural and cultural resources and sites, rather thanproviding developed recreation. This is accomplishedthrough the National Parks System, the refugesof the Fish and Wildlife Service, the vast NationalForests, deserts and other public lands overseenby the Bureau of Land Management and lakes andreservoirs from the Army Corps of Engineers and theBureau of Reclamation.Non profits / Other — land trusts and communityorganizations often own publicly accessiblepreserves and neighborhood parks or partner withpublic agencies to offer programs and services. Thehealth sector, foundations, and businesses contributefunding and the people of California volunteer timeand resources to support parks.Meeting the Park Needs of All Californians 2015 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan 5

State Parks’ Urban Parks Commitment – Los Angeles State Historic Park seeks to serve Californians in highly populated areas. The park addsgreen space, historic preservation, interpretive education and recreation to the busy metropolis of Los Angeles.The California Department of Parks and RecreationCalifornia has benefited greatly from this system ofboth public and private agencies that have made parksa priority. The California Department of Parks andRecreation serves an important role in this system. TheDepartment’s roles include the following: State Park System — Protect landscapes wherenature is primary and facilities complement naturaland cultural/historic values: 279 State Parks care for1.59 million acres for future generations, includingalmost one-third of California’s scenic coastline.Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation, and Office ofHistoric Preservation. Since 2000, the Departmentadministered over 2 billion in grants. Facilitate planning, technical assistance, andfunding partnerships — between the health sector,local park agencies, and other sectors to build healthiercommunities through new parks and programs.Develop and maintain the SCORP — Developanalysis, goals, tracking systems and range ofpartnerships to achieve plan, including facilitatingdiscussion and outreach about plan goals andprograms.Fund Local Needs — Develop and administerlocal assistance grant programs from bond actsor federally or state funded annual programsthrough the Office of Grants and Local Servicesand the Divisions of Boating and Waterways, Off-Morro Strand State Beach6 Meeting the Park Needs of All Californians 2015 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan

II Why Parks and Recreation MatterParks and recreation matter in many ways to California’s 38 million residents. Everyday, millions walk, ride, or run through parks, play with friends, and absorb thewonder of nature.Families and organizations have many needs; amongthem are the needs for recreation and access to theoutdoors. Parks and recreation: Support healthy, affordable, physical and socialactivities Improve the quality of life in communities as a formof social equity and environmental justice Provide venues for cultural celebrations that cananchor communities Are economic engines that fuel tourism, providejobs, and enhance the value of neighborhoods Preserve historic sites that connect Californians to thepast and safeguard its future Protect California’s inspiring vistas, natural resources,habitats, watersheds, forests, and wetlands.In addition to these direct benefits, the process ofplanning, creating, using, and improving parks cangenerate positive change. Community based planninggives stronger ties to one another and safeguards ourneighborhoods, bringing people and the governmentsthat serve them closer together.“It is so surreal to standhere knowing this willbecome a soccer park.It will build kindnessin our community.Here, youth will learnpride-with-purposeand become fit. Wehave seen kids turntheir lives aroundthrough sports.”Rafael Torres, Soccer Coach Statewide Park Program 3 milliongrant to City of San Pablo to createthe new Rumrill ParkMeeting the Park Needs of All Californians 2015 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan 7

Physical, Mental and Social HealthPublic parks and recreation opportunities serve asgateways to a healthier America.Recognition of many health challenges demands variousresponses. Parks can help with many if not most of thesechallenges: obesity; life expectancy; immune systems;general risk of disease; and overall quality of life.Parks as social meeting places also grow communityhealth — encouraging more volunteering, socialengagement, and civic pride. Parks provide affordableplaces to exercise. Youth join teams and enrichmentprograms in parks. Parks serve as strong catalysts inreclaiming urban run-down areas, and even contribute toenvironmental health — park vegetation can clean somepollutants improving local air quality.Examples of health benefits include: Adults and youth who live close to parks experiencehigher physical activity levels. An international study bythe University of Exeter’s Medical School (Environ. Sci.Technol., 2014, 48 (2). pp 1247–1255) also foundthat parks nearby provide psychological benefits — asmuch as a one-third decrease in mental health issues(anxiety, depression).Adolescents with easy access to multiple recreationfacilities experience more physical activity and areless likely to become overweight or obese thanadolescents without access to such facilities.City of Paramount, Salud Park In distressed neighborhoods where vacant lots wereconverted into small parks and community greenspaces, residents reported significantly less stress andmore exercise, according to a 2011 study published inthe American Journal of Epidemiology. Through a youth community gardening programimplemented by 20 park and recreation agencies,51 percent of participants reported eating more fruitsand vegetables. Parks can provide fresh food throughcommunity gardens, horticultural, and fruit tree orchards.The health benefits of parks aren’t just a matter of feelingpositive about park-based recreation: a 2011 studyconducted on a city park and recreation system revealedthat the city’s residents were able to save 64 million inannual medical costs as a result of getting physical activity incity parks. For individuals, the annual medical cost differencebetween being active or not was as much as 250–500.“I made it a goal to walk twomiles each day on thispark’s track with a group ofretired friends. Then I usethe outdoor gym equipment.I lost many pounds. It is apositive movement to ahealthy lifestyle.”Gale Swain 4.6 million Statewide ParkProgram grant to City of Paramount for thenew Salud Park8 Meeting the Park Needs of All Californians 2015 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan

The Importance of Play Areas forChildrenPlay is vital for the health in children. Health professionalsagree that the decline of active outdoor play in childhoodis linked to the rise of childhood obesity, Type 2diabetes, and decreased life expectancy. The AmericanAcademy of Pediatrics, in its 2007 clinical report titled“The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy ChildDevelopment and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds,”urged doctors to advocate for active free play as anessential part of every child’s physical health.A 2004 study by Frances Kuo and Andrea Taylor,published in the American Journal of Public Health,found that play and other activities conducted in greenoutdoor settings significantly reduced the symptomsof attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)in children. The number of children diagnosed withattention problems has skyrocketed in recent years.Free play is the engine of learning in childhood — avital force in children’s cognitive, social, and emotionaldevelopment. Providing rich and stimulating outdoorenvironments for children to play is important.Top right: Packard Foundation Summer Learning Program,Samuel P. Taylor State ParkBottom right: Calaveras Big Trees State ParkThe Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights was developed by the California Roundtable onRecreation, Parks and Tourism and has this objective: Every child in California, by thecompletion of their 14th year, should have the opportunity to experience each of theseactivities: Play in a safe place Follow a trail Go boating Explore nature Camp under the stars Connect with the past Learn to swim Ride a bike Plant a seed Go fishingMore information at http://calroundtable.org/Copy of cobor.htm.Meeting the Park Needs of All Californians 2015 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan 9

Removal of Blight to Create a Park — “Our community is polluted and unhealthy. Wehave been trying to get people to hear us that we need a park with trees, grass, lighting,a place to socialize, exercise and play. Turning this site into a park will improve ourcommunity image.”Matitza Lopez Statewide Park Program 5 million grant to City of Los Angeles to create the new Slauson Wall ParkEnvironmental JusticeWhile the concept of environmental justice grew outof the disproportionate placement of harmful facilities(dumps, refineries, toxic sites) near people of colorand of below average incomes, it applies here, too:the absence of positive things, like parks, can also beharmful. Communities need nearby parks to enjoy manyof the benefits described in this section.Research findings (Godbey and Mowen: The Benefits ofPhysical Activity: The Scientific Evidence) also show thatchildren who live close to public parks and recreationfacilities are more likely to be active. Given the hugechallenge of obesity facing so many children, particularlychildren of color, anything that increases active living isa matter of justice, as well as of health. Public parks alsoprovide a pathway to enrichment programs that are moreeasily available to more well-off communities, such asspecial camps, gyms, and private sports activities.Critical to addressing environmental justice is thedevelopment of a positive sense of community. Parkscan beautify areas of blight. Parks serve as grand meetingplaces of diverse populations. Engaging with all of ourdiversity on a regular basis is something that nearby parkscan easily offer — and all of society benefits as the bondsof citizenship grow through these interactions.10 Meeting the Park Needs of All Californians 2015 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan

Celebration of Cultural HeritageCalifornia, as one of the nation’s most diverse states,contains parks that are actively used to celebrate culturalheritages. Memorials about the park sites themselves,with stories placed into interpretive facilities, public art,and interpretive programs, show the depth of California’sdiverse heritage.The festivals and celebrations of all types that take placein parks represent important cultural assets. From birthdayparties and weddings, to national and internationalholidays, to festivals and special performances, parksembody California’s collective culture.Parks that provide for a variety of cultural expressionsrepresent places where residents come together to learnabout their own heritage and the heritages of theircommunity.Top left corner: Indian Grinding Rock, State Historic Park (SHP)Right column, top to bottom: Colonel Allensworth SHP volunteer,Historic Old Town San Diego volunteers (two middle photos), andSutter’s Fort SHPMeeting the Park Needs of All Californians 2015 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan 11

La Purisima Mission, State Historic Park,LompocPreservation of HistoryCalifornia’s human history extends back centuries. Parks can preserve the landscapes and artifacts of this lineage.Whether following a guide book on a trail, listening to a docent or ranger explain a feature, or just taking in history bysight, parks play a strong role in preserving a roadmap to the state’s communities, economies, and ecology.The Tomol Interpretive Play Area atCarpinteria State Beach — Few areas invitechildren to enjoy healthy outdoor play whilethey learn about California’s colorful history.The Tomol Interpretive Play Area is one ofthese special places. This unique facility letskids run, jump, slide and have fun while itencourages them to imagine living in aChumash Indian Village.12 Meeting the Park Needs of All Californians 2015 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan

Tourism, Jobs and OtherEconomic BenefitsOne cannot travel far in California before seeing alocal park, a regional reserve, a national forest or park,or many other types of the state’s protected openlands. These lands represent more than just playspaces or scenic wonders — they are strong economiccontributors:jobs Thousands of people holdin parks and inrelated programs — rangers, support staff, peoplewho run science programs for kids, weddingplanners, and more. Thousands ofthrive on thesupport of nearby parks, or recreation generally(sports leagues, hunting, fishing, camping, hiking,etc.) — outfitters, restaurants, hotels, motels, andB&Bs. Parks, including state beaches, bring tourists fromall over the world — in San Diego, one estimateplaced the value of park-relatedfor the county at 40 million, including hoteland food fees, sales taxes, rentals, and otherexpenditures (see sidebar for statewide analysis).businessestourism increase home valuesParksimmediately near them by 5–15 percent,according to an estimate by The Trust for PublicLand, helping property owners and boosting localproperty taxes.“ecosystem services”Parks providewith large economic benefits — the savings fromgroundwater capture and cleansing alone are aninvaluable but often hidden financial contributionof parks.An Outdoor Industry Association report finds thatall types of private and public recreation (beyondspending related to public parks) generates 85 billion in consumer spending and732,100 jobs in California. To learn more goto: mlHearst San Simeon, State Historical MonumentEconomic Value of Public Parks inCaliforniaPark Types(number of)Sales*Jobs**City, County and RegionalParks (12,000) 10 billion196,000State Parks (630, includesall state agencies) 4.3 billion56,000Federal Parks (500, includesall federal agencies) 7.1 billion61,000Average Total Per Year 21.4 billion 313,000Chart based on 2010 BBC Research & Consulting report to CaliforniaState Parks.*Sales include travel and related expenditures (lodging, meals,gas) and team and other sports equipment). **Jobs include parkpersonnel and indirect employment from recreation-relatedexpenditures. Park numbers do not include approximately 500nonprofit and private parks in total CPAD inventory.Meeting the Park Needs of All Californians 2015 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan 13

Protection of Natural ResourcesWetlands ConservationAnother important benefit of parks includes theprotection of natural resources needed for all life.Protection roles include:The future of wetlands is a critical matter; therefore, eachSCORP includes priorities for wetlands. Conservation of biodiversity — California is wellrenowned for the richness of its plant and animalspecies, and for their uniqueness. Parks and otherprotected space are vital to ensure natural balance.Green Infrastructure — In metropolitan areas, parkscapture rain water and storm flows. These “greensolutions” help control sediment, flooding, urban heatisland effects and pollution.Iconic landscapes — Areas of outstanding beautyare frequently preserved in parks — special view points,coastlines, bays, meadows, valleys, mountain rangesare all vital to California’s heritage and well-being, andmotivate people to protect and support parks. Since European settlement, ninety percent of theoriginal inland wetland landscapes of California havebeen lost. These losses are due to agriculture, urbandevelopment, and other human actions. Coastal wetland loss is even more severe, with onlyfive percent of original wetlands remaining.California’s Wetland Conservation Policy mandates “nooverall net loss and a long-term net gain in the quantity,quality, and permanence of wetland acreage”. As such,wetlands are protected by many federal and state laws,regulations and policies to prevent further degradationand destruction.The natural resource value of parks becomes moreimportant every year as the press of population growthchallenges landscapes and natural systems. This growth isnow projected at 20 percent over the next quarter century.(California Department of Finance)The California Wetland Monitoring Workgroupincludes federal, state and local agencies workingto “coordinate monitoring activities, establish priorities,resolve existing inconsistencies, and facilitatecommunication am

California's 150-year park legacy created one of the world's greatest . systems, with nearly 1,000 agencies managing 14,000 parks. . Griffith Park, Los Angeles (1896 Griffith J. Griffith donation of 3,015 acres to Los Angeles for recreation) 4 . such as golf courses, privately