CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS FOUNDATION CONNECTS COMMUNITIES TO STATE PARKS ON EARTH DAY | Cal Parks

Legislators and Community Members Volunteer to Protect California’s Parks for Future Generations

Sacramento, CA – California State Parks Foundation teamed up today with local partners throughout the state to mobilize Californians in celebration of Earth Day. At 20 different state parks stretching from north to south, legislators, community leaders and families turned out for volunteer workdays and community open houses to protect and enhance the irreplaceable pockets of our earth, ensuring green spaces continue to help our communities thrive for generations to come. 

“I’m thrilled to hear so many Californians celebrated Earth Day by visiting and volunteering in their incredible state parks,” said Lisa Mangat, Director of the California Department of Parks and Recreation.  “By participating in service projects, like the ones that occurred across the state today, we are investing in a greener earth for our children and grandchildren. I am grateful to California State Parks Foundation for their leadership on today’s celebrations as well to our park staff and network of park partners for their collaboration and continued dedication to our unique state parks.” 

Funded through grants from California State Parks Foundation, the various Earth Day events were held at 20 parks and featured a wide variety of speakers, including leaders and environmental stewards State Senators Holly J. Mitchell, Scott Wiener and Ling Ling Chang and Assemblymembers Marc Levine, Wendy Carrillo, Sydney Kamlager-Dove and Monique Limón. 

“I was honored to celebrate Earth Day, alongside my constituents, here in our backyard at Carpinteria State Beach,” said Assemblymember Monique Limón. “We are fortunate to have volunteers, community leaders, and organizations who help preserve the beauty of our state parks.”

“Earth Day helps inform the public on the necessity to care for our only planet,” said Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for neighbors to gather and understand the responsibility of caring and protecting our planet while experiencing the wonder of open spaces in our own backyard, like the Rio de Los Angeles State Park which is a green sanctuary in the middle of a bustling city.”

Earth Day reminds us that our parks are special places that belong to everyone where we can find spectacular natural beauty, spaces to learn and innumerable mental and physical health benefits. California State Parks Foundation believes that equal access to these benefits should be a right for all Californians, especially California’s youth. 

“We are so grateful to all the dedicated volunteers who donated their time to help our parks. Increasing access to state parks for new and diverse visitors is a top priority for California State Parks Foundation and is critical to our efforts to build future park champions.  In-park events like our Earth Day celebrations are an opportunity for community members to experience firsthand the benefits that parks can provide to their families.” said Rachel Norton, Executive Director, California State Parks Foundation.  

For more than 20 years California State Parks Foundation’s annual Earth Day celebrations have raised nearly $7 million, attracting nearly 90,000 participants volunteering more than 355,000 hours. Every year our volunteers perform crucial park maintenance tasks, like restoring natural ecosystems and trail improvements, totaling nearly $7.3 million in park improvements. This year, hundreds of volunteers arrived on site ready to get to work and participate in our open houses which included family nature walks, arts and crafts and bilingual activities to help community members feel at home in their parks. The complete list of event volunteer locations and open houses are provided below: 

  • Angel Island State Park
  • Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook 
  • Benicia State Recreation Area
  • Candlestick Point State Recreation Area
  • Carpinteria State Beach
  • China Camp State Park (open house)
  • Chino Hills State Park
  • Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park
  • Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
  • Folsom Lake State Recreation Area (open house)
  • Half Moon Bay State Beach (open house)
  • Henry Cowell State Park
  • Millerton Lake State Recreation Area
  • Montaña de Oro State Park
  • Mount Diablo State Park
  • Old Town San Diego State Historic Park (open house)
  • Palomar Mountain State Park
  • Rio de Los Angeles State Park (open house)
  • Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area
  • South Carlsbad State Beach - Tomato Fields