Sacramento, CA – Governor Gavin Newsom submitted his 2020-21 California state budget proposal to the Legislature today, outlining the fiscal blueprint for the coming year. The proposed budget is demonstrative of Governor Newsom’s clear dedication to California’s youth and health – both core facets of the Foundation’s Pathways to Parks campaign launched late last year in partnership with the Office of the First Partner. The Pathways to Parks initiative is dedicated to increasing access to the health and wellness benefits green spaces provide, especially for underserved youth who need access to public lands now more than ever.

”Today’s budget proposal signifies a monumental shift in how this administration plans to approach parks policies in the coming year – by allocating $65.1 million to a ‘Parks for All’ initiative, the Governor is publicly answering our calls to increase access to a protected parks system that is truly for everyone,” said Rachel Norton, Executive Director of the California State Parks Foundation. “Last year, we launched our Pathways to Parks campaign on the research – and genuine belief – that parks are a public health solution right at our fingertips, and now this year we’re eager to get to work realizing and implementing the programs outlined in the Governor’s budget so that every Californian, regardless of zip code, has access to the health and wellness benefits our green spaces provide.”