Assembly Select Committee on Select Committee on State Parks

There will not be phone testimony for our hearing, so public comment will be in person or submitted via email on the committee's website. I will do everything I can to maintain decorum here in our hearing. We will not permit conduct that disrupts or otherwise impedes the hearing. Any individual who is disruptive may be removed from the room. I'd like to thank the Members and staff for attending this hearing, and we have a great set of panelists for all of you.

California has the most diverse and the largest state park system in the country, with 280 park properties on 1.6 million acres. This is a great natural and cultural treasure that California has been maintaining since the selection of the first state park in 1862. It's amazing to see over a century of natural resources be maintained so that future generations are able to see the wonders of nature, just as we have with all of the historic storms and floods and heat waves and other extreme weather events happening.

Now more than ever, we need to protect the environment from the effects of climate change. Maintaining our park system is incredibly important to our climate policies, but we need to ensure that they are accessible to all Californians, whether it's the location, safety, or maintenance of green spaces. These spaces have traditionally not always been accessible to the marginalized communities. Low income, working class communities of color, largely Latino and black communities often feel that green spaces aren't for them.

This is the number one reason I asked the speaker to appoint me as a Chair and asked for the approval of this particular Select Committee, because I wanted our parks to be open and visited by the diverse populations we have here in California. Access to nature is such a fundamental aspect of human life, and there are so many co benefits to creating accessible outdoors. Parks promote health and fitness, they foster community engagement, and they offer incredible educational opportunities for children. It goes beyond just good policy.

Being around nature is good for the soul. I've heard that on a number of occasions, and that is so true. It's just good for the soul to be out in nature. We have a great set of panelists for this hearing today, including representatives from three state park entities, as well as stakeholders who can speak to outdoor equity from the implementation perspective and the perspective of the community. Before I begin introducing our panelists, I'd like to give an opportunity to our Members. If you'd like to share a few opening remarks. Assembly Member Hart.

Thank you, Madam Chair. This is just such a wonderful opportunity to talk about how critically important our state parks are to every Californian. And as our chair so well stated, the legacy that we enjoy and are responsible for protecting and enhancing has come from many generations of Californians who protected and nurtured and expanded our state park system.

Our challenge is to make it more equitable and accessible to every Californian and at the same time, same time, maintain the infrastructure that's very difficult and expensive to protect and maintain. And that's a big responsibility. I think it's something we need to do more investments in at the state level to make sure that we have the resources to do the work that the state parks folks and the State Parks Foundation are supporting together.

So this is just a wonderful opportunity to highlight these issues, really bring them to the attention of the public, and to celebrate the wonderful state park system that we enjoy in California.

Thank you, Assembly Member.

Stephanie Nguyen, Assembly Member for District Ten. I want to thank the Chair for inviting me to sit on this panel. As a mom to young children, two little girls, as a matter of fact, it's really important to me that they not only get to enjoy, but learn and experience our state parks.

And so being on this committee is more than just being able to hear from you all that are here and being able to sit here, but also ensuring that this is going to be available for our future generations to come. As I look through a lot of the documents that were sent to me, I noticed there were a lot of things on kids and our future and generations. And I love that.

I love that because that's why we're here, is to make sure that we protect these such really important parts of California. So thank you for the panelists that are here today to speak and to educate us and share with us as well too. And thank you, Madam Chair, for allowing me to sit on this.

Thank you.

Thank you on behalf of Assembly District 72. I'm Diane Dixon, and I didn't know there was a special or Select Committee on State Parks, and I'm delighted and honored to serve on it. I think we've all probably enjoyed many personal holidays in our state parks and certainly want to encourage and make certain that all residents of California, as well as all visitors to California, can enjoy the beauty of California.

It is so much to behold, and I'm just proud to learn more about our state parks instead of just from a visitor perspective and appreciate your leadership on this. So thank you for leading us to this important opportunity of learning. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair, for allowing me to be part of this committee. Mike Gipson, representing the 65th State Assembly District. What's unique in my role is I have one state park, and it's absolutely very important and very special to the community which I represent. I grew up hearing about this state park. It's called the Watts Towers.

The Watts Towers have so much significance, meaning to the Watts community where I was born and raised, growing up, in all the parks in the surrounding community and elevating. And I also want to commend the chair on the significance of today's title status of State Parks success and Barriers to Achieving the parks. It's absolutely important that we talk about what are the barriers, but also elevating the successes of our state parks, see how we can also make sure that they're better for the next generation.

Madam Chair, thank you very much for your leadership and bringing us all together to have this very robust conversation. I will have to leave a little early, but my team is watching, and they're taking notes, and these notes will be shared with not only me, but also with your team as well for further discussion. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Gipson.

Thank you, Madam Chair, for inviting me to also sit on this select committee. I'm a California that grew up camping along California state beaches, mostly close to home, San Clemente and Santa Nofre at that time. But in fact, I sit here because of those outdoor experience. Some know that I was a swimmer in junior high and high school, but it's because of those experiences at the beach. Coming from a family of ten, we were not going to hotels.

We were camping in a very small trailer and a tent. So I'm very eager for this presentation. A few of the things that I'm hoping you will cover. As we know, some of the 280 park properties are more popular than others, and some, I think, have quite a bit of attendance. Others have maybe more serene and harder to get to, not as much. But how is the park system dealing with some of the most popular parks?

I will just give the reference of Cristo Cove, which is actually an area that we quite enjoy, but we know that it's extremely difficult to get a reservation. How is that operating? But there's others that Malibu, others that are extraordinarily hard to get into. And how does that look with the communities of color accessing those systems? Thank you.

Thank you so much. That is a sentiment that's been shared by many of the other Members who heard about this select committee, and they said, be sure you ask. And thank you, Assembly Member Sharon Quirksilva, for providing that. Well, wonderful. Let's bring our panelists up. Armando Quintero, Director of the Parks and Recreation Department, for the State Parks. Rachel Norton, Executive Director of State Parks Foundation. Kindley Walsh Lawlor, President and CEO of Parks California. Sonia Diaz, Policy Director for Outdoor Outreach and Srishti Surana, student Advocate. Director Quintero You may begin when ready.

Good afternoon, Madam Chair and Members. It's really my honor to be with all of you today, and I'll just very quickly say that I grew up not going to parks, but as a child, I dreamt about going to parks, and National Geographic and the Encyclopedia Britannica was my window into what I thought someday I would visit. Never dreamed that I'd be in this position of extraordinary privilege. So my name is Armando Quintero. I'm Director of the California State Park System.

And the California State Park System represents extraordinary examples, as you mentioned, of the state's diverse habitats and landscapes, historical sites, cultural resources and recreation areas, as you said, with over 1.6 million acres throughout 21 districts. And those 21 districts contain 280 state parks. With a new state park about to be added and over 340 miles of coastline, the Department includes the largest and most diverse recreational, natural and cultural heritage holdings of any state agency in the nation.

The Department oversees the Division of Boating and Waterways, the Division of Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation, and the Office of Historic Preservation. Each, along with parks, has a corresponding commission at the Department. We are committed to advancing outdoors for all, and we are focused on enabling, safe, equitable, enjoyable access to parks, open spaces, natural resources and recreational amenities for all Californians, and I'll be touching on that as I speak.

Many protected areas in other countries have multiple designations and overlapping boundaries, making it difficult to compare them directly with the California State Park System. However, California's incredible biodiversity has resulted in a variety of protected areas to conserve resources, as well as some expansive areas that rival national parks. I spent 22 years working for national parks as a park ranger, so I'm intimately familiar with that Department and organization.

The National Park System and California State parks are the most complex examples of national and state park systems, with far more unique individual sites than any other country or state, respectively. Within the coming months, the Department will be releasing a new strategic plan called Path Forward, which aligns with the Governor's Equity Executive Order N 1622. It also aligns with 30 by 30 and the outdoors for all initiatives.

It also builds upon existing priorities established through the parks transformation process and introduces new ideas, goals and objectives for the next five years, and we are hoping to set the trajectory well into the future. We've implemented a number of programs to increase access and reduce barriers to parks to state parks. The Golden Bear Pass is a pass which is available to the Department of Social Services Service recipients, and we continue to partner with them.

And this program or the Golden Bear Pass provides free annual State Parks day. Use passes to income eligible Californians. In the past, the average number of DSS recipients who received these Golden Bear passes was about 2500. Through our partnership with them. This year, we distributed 61,000 passes to people who are lower income and social service recipients. The parks library pass. And I have to show you this. This is a hang tag that anybody can check out in any of the state libraries.

And this is a reflection of a partnership this is a reflection of a partnership between State Parks and the state library system. And working with the Legislature, last year, we were able to get 33,000 passes out to the libraries in the state. And it is the most popular item checked out in the state library system. And there's an amazing story there in that there is a QR code on the back. And we ask people to voluntarily fill out a survey.

And we know from those surveys that about 40% of the people who check out these passes report an annual income of less than $60,000. And prior to being able to grab one of these passes and go into a park, most of these families report never having gone to a park or just having gone to one or two. After checking out these passes, the average number that families are saying they're going to go to is seven parks.

And also, just incidental, when I go to whenever I go to towns and there's a library, I'll walk in and go talk to a librarian. Every single one of them, when I mentioned I work for state parks, pulls out the pass. And one of the things that I've done is I've asked, what are some of the things that you encounter? This is a really interesting thing.

A number of them have mentioned that when people come back, they say, we didn't realize it was so inexpensive to get into a park. We thought it was the same as an amusement park, which was really interesting. And there's a whole bunch of other things that we're learning by having these passes in place. We also last year initiated the fourth grade adventure pass.

And this adventure pass allows every fourth grader in California to go online and register for a pass, and it allows them to take themselves and their family to 19 state parks, where we've developed special programs that they can enjoy and that are designed specifically for the fourth grade curriculum and their families. And to date, over 42,000 students in California have checked out those passes, and we expect that number to grow significantly in the coming year. Another barrier is transportation.

The Department is partnering with school districts, local transportation district, and others to help provide transportation programs to state parks. The Department is also working with parks California to administer the route to parks grant program. And through this program, various entities can apply for grant funds to provide transportation to and from state parks and beaches. The California state park system really depends on collaborative partnerships, which leverage the impact of the department's work across resource management and visitor services.

And a couple of our key partners are here with us today, and the Department has robust partnerships with California State Parks Foundation and Parks California. We couldn't do what we do at state parks without these partnerships. I think a lot of people don't realize that many of the things that they get to enjoy in state parks are absolutely a result of these partnerships, and partnerships like these.

Parks California, which is our statutory nonprofit partner, was only established four years ago, and they have delivered tremendous benefit to state parks by expanding equitable access, climate resiliency programs, and more. I also would like to talk about the Office of Grants and Local Services. And while I heard, I know that some Members will say, I only have one park or no parks in my district.

The Office of Grants and Local Services, since the year 2000, has distributed over $3 billion in local assistance in grants from a variety of sources. Proposition One prop. 68. And this funding establishes indoor and outdoor recreation facilities in every corner of the state, providing recreation experiences for thousands of children, youth, and their families. More than 7400 communities have benefited by these parks that have been created by these investments. In California.

In OGALS, which is the Office of Grants and Local Services, there is a program called the California Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program. SPP. For short. It was created to provide new parks and to enhance existing parks in disadvantaged and severely disadvantaged communities throughout California. And really, it's with thanks to the Legislature and the administration's support that this program represents the state's largest park infrastructure investment targeted for underserved communities.

And one of my hopes is to make sure that we are messaging to these communities that that local community park connects them to the whole state park system which they own. I love telling community Members that these are your state parks and this is where you live, even if you live in LA or Martinez, where I'm from, the North Coast, redwoods, the beaches in the Southern Coast, those are yours. And so we're really working on our messaging to create a true understanding of ownership here.

The Department initiated also a new program, which is called Arts in California Parks, and this is to support me support artists, writers, performers, communities, and tribal nations in creating artwork that offers perspectives on the past, the present, and helps us to imagine the potential of parks as a reflection of culture and natural systems into the future. The program will establish powerful arts programming in state and local parks. Those parks that have been funded by OGALS will also be eligible for recipient support from these funds.

And these are intended to help create community connection, cultural expression, and better understanding of the natural systems around us. State Parks is partnering with tribal entities, and we are building upon years of collaborative work on the stewardship of the state's irreplaceable natural and cultural resources, as well as efforts to broaden access to parks.

Results of our tribal collaborations include the development of signed Memorandum of understanding with federally recognized tribes like the Koi Nation, which, by the way, I woke up at Clear Lake this morning, joined the tribal leadership of the Koi Nation and signed an MOU with them on the shores of Clear Lake this morning. That refreshes our first MOU to sign with tribes, which was in 2017.

We've also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kashaya Pomo Yurok Washo and with nonfederally recognized tribes like the Amamutzin of the Santa Cruz area. These collaborations have resulted in the support for tribal traditional ceremonies, reintroduced species, expanded habitat, and brought traditional ecological knowledge about prescription fires and the cultivation of traditional plant materials into practice at State Parks.

The Stone Lagoon Visitor Center, which is up on the north Coast Redwoods, is staffed by Members of the Uroc Tribe, and the interpretive exhibits and signage at Redwoods State Park have been cooperatively developed with the Uroc Tribe. One of the things that you're seeing in many parks now is multilingual signage and interpretation.

And in fact, part of the ceremony this morning was renaming two sites with local Koi language titles, and one of them is The Mountains Where Grandmother Heals is what the meaning of the new name means. Got to go.

If you can wrap up, okay. We'd love to hear from okay.

We're working on reexamining our past, so we're exploring these areas. State Parks also manages a number of areas. We've developed a sea level rise adaptation strategy. As you mentioned, we're being affected by these serious climate change events. We're working on acquisition and funding of new parks, and we continue to work on that.

Our most recent acquisition is Los Rio State Park, which is 8 miles west of Modesto, and that's a park that we hope to open this fall or late fall, and our formal General management process will take place starting this fall and into the spring and into next year. Thank you, Madam Chair, Members of the committee, for listening to me.

Thank you so much. We really needed this select committee. There is so much information. I sincerely appreciate your presentation. I'd like to ask Rachel Norton, Executive Director of the State Parks Foundation.

All right, well, good afternoon. And I am indeed Rachel Norton. I'm the Executive Director of the California State Parks Foundation. And I think I can speak for all of us that we're so pleased to be here today to talk about what state parks mean to Californians and about the park's needs and challenges and to give you information about how all of us in the partner community are working shoulder to shoulder with the dedicated people of the state park system to meet those needs.

And particularly, I'm looking forward to your committee's questions and engagement and leadership in helping all of us keep this incredible system moving forward. It's really wonderful that you pulled together this panel. It's particularly important, I think, for all of you to understand how these three partnerships and other partners who you're going to hear from as well, work together. The Department, parks, California, the foundation, really work collaboratively together to support the system, and we strive always for alignment and shared priorities.

Each of us do our work differently, but we all have a role to play. And so I'm going to talk a little bit about what California State Parks Foundation's role is. Next slide, please. For over 50 years, California State Parks Foundation has been the leading statewide voice in advocating for a sustainably funded state park system, access to parks for all, and enduring park protection. Our mission over all that time has been to protect and preserve the California State Park System for the benefit of all.

We envision a future where Californians have a state park system that is accessible and relevant, adequately and sustainably funded and stewarded for future generations. Next slide, please. William Penn Mott, Jr. Was the Director of California State Parks in 1969 when he gathered a group of prominent Californians together to form a partner organization for the state park system. That organization that became California State Parks Foundation. Mr. Mott knew that state parks needed the love, support, and stewardship of everyone in our big, diverse state.

Over time, California State Parks Foundation grew and changed to meet the needs of the state park system, and that is our commitment. We are here to fight for parks and the Californians and visitors who use them, and this commitment will never change. Our commitment involves next slide, please.

Our commitment involves creating a bigger tent, ensuring that our work reflects the needs and the values of the most marginalized Californians, and serving as a network builder and funder for those communities to ensure that their needs are centered in parks. We are working with state parks partners and Californians on solutions to address the following critical issues. Next slide. Climate impacts. Intense bomb cyclones, heat domes, wildfires and rare hurricanes. And that might have only just been the last month or two in California. They are here.

And our beloved parks can be climate resilient with investment and planning. We're using the best available science and research to learn deeply about climate threats and solutions to educate Californians and the Legislature, activate people to take action, and ultimately influence policy and legislation that prioritizes communities most affected by climate change. Next slide. California State parks are public spaces, but many people, as we've heard, cannot access or experience them.

Barriers to park access include lack of transportation, the cost of visiting, lack of awareness of parks and the activities that they offer, and more. And we're really proud to have worked since 2018 with the first partner and with UCLA to articulate the need for more access to parks, work that was integral to creating the pass pilots that the Director mentioned. And I do want to talk specifically about the library pass.

We were so fortunate to receive very generous donations from an individual donor and from Rei so that we were able to place backpacks with gear in 500 backpacks across the state park system to help extend the experience of visiting. When folks check out a pass, they also can check out a backpack, and that helps them. There's wildlife guides and other things in the backpack, and that helps them extend and enrich the experience of being there. We also the Director mentioned the QR code.

We're working closely with the Department, so we're taking all that survey data, and we donated an opportunity for people to win an annual pass to parks if they fill out the survey as an additional inducement. So the data as the Director alluded to is just incredible that is coming out of that program wonderful.

Sorry, I had to talk a little bit more about access. We have also worked closely with the Department and with Parks California and Save the Redwoods League as presenting partners of California State Parks Week, which also invites more Californians to experience and enjoy their state park system. Next slide. To support park excellence and a thriving state park system, sufficient staffing funding and effective park policies are really critical.

We ensure park excellence by fighting for a fully funded California State Park system and by creating thriving partnership programs so that state parks can benefit from the work of all nonprofit partners, especially the park operators and co-ops represented by the California League of Park Associations, another important partner. We also provide grants to improve and enhance park amenities and infrastructure. Next slide. By expanding park staff's capacity, volunteers help overcome resource constraints and carry out essential stewardship tasks such as trail maintenance, habitat restoration, planting, and more.

Their involvement fosters community engagement and connection, spreading awareness, and inspiring others to appreciate and protect these natural and cultural treasures. Because of our program, 90 percent of volunteers feel more connected to state parks, 90 percent feel more part of a community of park supporters, and 80 percent are more likely to return to state parks. Among park staff, 95 percent feel supported in the planning and execution of workdays, and that our workdays produce a high quality impact on their park. Next slide.

As Mr. Mott knew, parks need an engaged constituency to thrive. We engage that constituency by building communities around parks, working with partners all over California of all sizes. We work with you, the Legislature, to ensure that state parks are a priority in the state budget and in legislation, and finally, we engage Californians to experience, steward, and advocate for their parks, whether it's volunteering, donating, joining as one of our 70,000 members, or advocating. We empower champions for parks. Next slide.

One of the most important ways that we work with you, the Legislature, is by engaging advocates and park supporters in your districts and connecting them with your offices so that voices are heard. We also regularly engage in policy discussions in Sacramento and present educational webinars so that park advocates can learn about the issues and how to be effective advocates for parks. Alright, next slide. Almost done. I would like to leave you now with some of our key legislative priorities for parks.

First, parks need sustained multiyear investment in reducing the staggering deferred maintenance backlog that affects access and visitor experience in parks across the system. Second, the Department has done an incredible job in implementing these three past pilots that were enacted in 2021, and they have expanded access to many Californians who previously lacked the resources to visit parks. Those pilots have been so successful and should be extended and expanded.

Finally, our parks can meet the challenges posed by climate change if there are additional resources to plan and for worsening impacts of sea level rise, wildfires, extreme heat, and loss of biodiversity. Every park needs a funded climate resilience plan to ensure that we can protect these incredible places and offer respite and recreation for impacted communities. Last slide. Thank you so much for your time, and I will be very happy to answer any questions that you have.

Thank you. I sure appreciate that you included our colleague, who is also a member of this committee, Assembly Member--

You caught that.

Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, who is the chair of the Water Parks and Wildlife. Thank you. Thank you. Kindley Lawlor?

Yes, thank you. Good afternoon, Madam Chair and Members of the Committee. Thank you so much for having us here. My name is Kindley Walsh Lawlor. I'm the President and CEO of Parks California, and I'm delighted to be in the room. As the official statutory partner to the Department of Parks and Recreation, we have a clear mission, very similar to what you heard from our friends to the right, to help strengthen parks and inspire all to experience these extraordinary places.

We work every day to positively impact the communities that you serve. In 2015, the Parks Forward Commission issued recommendations for how state parks could meet the needs of all people now and into the future. The Parks Forward Plan showed that far too many people in California face economic and social barriers that prohibit them from experiencing the wonders of California State Parks. It also revealed that additional support was needed to protect parks' natural and cultural resources.

The Park Forward Commission's core recommendation was to create a new statewide statutory nonprofit partner to California State Parks as articulated in SB 1111. And in 2018, articles of incorporation were filed to establish Parks California as the official nonprofit partner to California State Parks, and we began operating in early 2019. We were created to be a new model for public, private, and nonprofit partnership and as a nonprofit extension of the state parks' team, Parks California is a trusted thought partner and a Nimble project manager.

We work collaboratively to add outside expertise to solve these big challenges. By partnering with nonprofits like we have here today, tribes, consultants, and universities, we leverage public dollars and bring in additional private funding to scale impact and broaden support for state parks and community. In many cases, our projects start as pilots, with the idea that they'll turn to scaled projects.

Each year, as the statutory partner, Parks California meets with state parks' leadership to set joint priorities as prescribed in SB 1111. We work closely with state park staff on the ground to catalyze innovation and advance projects which address the mission critical needs identified. If we could go, please, to the Joint Priority slide. Next one. Perfect. Thank you. Our 2023 joint priorities fall into three categories: Equitable Access, Interpretation, and Education is the first. The second is Climate Resilient, Landscape-scale Stewardship. And the third, Parks of the Future.

California's robust state park system requires funding, scalable solutions, and community involvement. And as we've heard and know, California state parks can't do this alone. We need collaboration, and we need partnership. We're a part of that network. We work closely with the parks' foundation and state parks to support the delivery of the state parks' adventure pass program that we started to talk about already.

While the foundation took the lead on advocating for the pass program, Parks California provided grants to underserved communities that then enabled transportation so those fourth graders students and their families could go to parks. Expanding state park programs and priorities and helping to connect these opportunities to nonprofits, to communities statewide, is central to what we do at Parks California. Four years in, we're managing 37 projects in partnership with California State Parks and have made a total of 110 grants across the state. Next slide, please.

We strive to be connectors to meet people where they are in their relationship with nature. We know everyone deserves access to these parks, that to create connection, the park experiences have to be relevant when people arrive, and that meaningful connections to nature foster that future park stewardship. They're caregivers of tomorrow. Parks California co-designs programs with community and state parks to ensure we meet the needs of your constituents. Next slide, please.

We launched Route to Parks in 2020 to support and fund local nonprofit orgs that are best able to address local transportation and obstacles in their own communities and how to get to parks. We're currently in the middle of our third year and have invested 1 million in a mix of public and private funds in communities and recently launched the application process for our fourth year. We have a grantee sitting to our left here as well.

Road to Parks grantees serve populations who historically have had less access to state parks and face transportation barriers. When we surveyed these organizations, 93 percent told us transportation was their biggest obstacle, and these grants are filling an acute need. We encourage grantees to be creative in resolving barriers.

One grantee working in Assembly District 37, Nature Track, not only reduced transportation hurdles for wheelchair users by bringing in AdA buses, but they also purchased freedom tracks with the funding they were given through Route to Parks, which is a motorized off-road attachment for manual wheelchairs. And we learned later, for some participants, this was the first time they were in nature since they were in a wheelchair.

Ultimately, we see Route to Parks as a starting point for each person to create their own lifelong connection to parks and nature. 96 percent of the participants in these first three years have said they intend to return. Slide ten, please. To create connection to place, the premise is simple. When a new visitor enjoys their park experience, when they see themself, and when they feel welcome, they're more likely to return. And that means park experience have to be relevant.

As a thought partner to state parks, we're helping to consider what park programs are being offered that lift up local community. How can park staffing better reflect the community? How does the experience, from signage to activities, encourage people to feel connected and want to come back? Lifting Indigenous, Black, Latinx, Asian voices and other histories is an important opportunity to tell a more complete story of the people who inhabited these lands and across the state.

So, too, is providing park interpreters with the training and tools to navigate difficult or contested histories to foster dialogue, and to spark civic action. We're collaborating with state parks and an international coalition to deliver training and resources for park staff to help parks become dynamic centers of community engagement across California. Additionally, state parks are located in urban settings as we started the day speaking with Assembly Members.

We work very closely at Candlestick Point State Recreation Area with state parks and with California State Parks Foundation, where we've brought in 500,000 dollars of private funds to expand the reach to 20 community organizations to help Candlestick become a true community hub in its neighborhood of Bayview-Hunters Point, historically underserved community in San Francisco. Again, we're rebuilding connections with partners with state parks and with community in urban parks and beyond. Slide eleven, please.

And lastly, we're identifying opportunities to create tomorrow's park stewards by supporting pathways to careers. Bringing diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and Indigenous knowledge into stewardship builds resilience and broader support for our parks. Our career pathways approach supports organizations like the Amah Mutsun Land Trust. Their Native Stewardship Corps is working at Ano Nuevo State Park, located in District 23, and this program engages young adult tribal members in restoration and implementation of Indigenous Stewardship practices.

These practices will offer insight on the use of traditional knowledge to create a more climate resilient future while also building leadership pathways for Indigenous youth. To date, we've invested 500,000 dollars in private funds. We've trained over 80 participants, all of whom identify 80 percent of--whom identify as BIPOC and from economically disadvantaged communities. State parks will be better prepared to address climate change with the talented and diverse workforce. Parks California exists so that all people have the opportunity to build lifelong and meaningful connections to nature.

With our unique statutory authorities and through collaboration with California State Parks and other wonderful nonprofit partners and communities, we're working as a statewide collaborator to solve complex and systemic problems, including nurturing a sense of belonging so that California State Parks meet the evolving needs of everyone and are stewarded for future generations to come. Thank you so much for this opportunity.

Thank you so much. Sonia Diaz, Policy Director for Outdoor Outreach.

Good afternoon, Committee Members and Chair. Thank you very much for having me today. Outdoor Outreach is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1999, providing direct services in the greater San Diego region. We are also a grantee of Parks California and coming back to this recurring theme of belonging and access, this is exactly what our organization's mission is all about. We connect youth that are really underrepresented in our park system to the transformative power of the outdoors.

I wish when I was in high school, there was an organization like Outdoor Outreach because I grew up in a community that didn't have any access to parks or green spaces. And so it is a pleasure; I take personal pleasure in this work. And it's been a passion of mine to work for an organization that connects people to nature and all of its benefits that it provides--not only health, but mental well being. And we also have an eight week leadership program that creates a career pathway for youth in outdoor careers, but also teaches them life skills like leadership, resume building, financial literacy, and skills that aren't normally taught in schools that I also wish I had as well.

And not only focusing on youth themselves, but also providing intergenerational programs like the Vamos A Pescar Grant Program that we've been beneficiaries of. We take families and their youth out to fishing trips and we do a variety of different outdoor activities. And I call it 'From Mountains to Ocean.'

So everything from hiking, rock climbing, snowboarding, to surfing, stand up paddle boarding, anything, you name it. And we actually offer these programs to over 2,000 individual youth per year, about 600 outings per year that we do. And we provide everything free of cost: the equipment, instruction at a free or subsidized cost. We do this with partnerships from over 50 schools, predominantly Title 1 schools and nonprofit organizations that serve underserved communities.

And we've been engaged in statewide advocacy work since 2013, actually as a way to further our mission by addressing a lot of these systemic challenges that were raised today, challenges to outdoor access that our communities continually face. And one example of that is we've come up many times for Parks Advocacy Day in partnership with California State Parks Foundation, where we have engaged our youth in coming up to Sacramento to tell their stories and experiences to help shape policy at the state level.

And we also were engaged in the creation of, sorry, this key stakeholder group, engaged in the creation of AB 250 that established guidelines for increasing low cost visitor accommodations and partnering with Parks California in Silver Strand State Beach in San Diego. And then also a key stakeholder in advancing the creation of AB 209, which established the Outdoor Equity Grants Program, which is a wonderful program that has connected our youth to a lot of these outdoor experiences that I just mentioned.

One of the things about, it's one thing to have a park, but to be connected to it and feel that you belong in it is something else. And so that's where our nonprofit comes in because we're a trusted bridge to create that space that's culturally relevant when, it's so different when you see somebody guiding you through this space that looks like you and has the same experience as you, life experience as you, and it creates a sense of comfort and belonging.

And so a lot of our staff have been through our program, our youth that have also been through our program. So we have that full circle loop of continuing self-sustaining model that we have. And one of the things that we've run our programs at multiple state parks. But one of the things that brings me here today that's relevant to our conversation is that we've had an amazing partnership with California State Parks, yet we still face many barriers to accessing our own parks.

We kept coming up against these barriers because there are things like permitting, for example, which I'll talk in a bit about, that actually create an additional layer for nonprofits to be able to operate. So what I mean by that is, we run again 600 programs annually, and they're at multiple parks and sometimes weekly, monthly, regular times of year.

And the current system has been designed for one time special events that are large, right, and doesn't really accommodate the type of multiple touch points that our organization does on a regular basis. And specifically, for nonprofits that are bringing new visitors to parks for the first, this is their first visit.

And so when we get turned away, for example, with the special event permit that we have to keep taking out every single time we come to the state park, that really deters people away from the experience. And so little structural barriers like that really make a big difference in accessing our park system.

So we tried to work with our local superintendent at California State Parks back in 2016 to come up with a partnership that we called the Community Access Partnership, or CAP because we realized we needed a statewide solution to support this type of model, right? We operate in many different jurisdictions, not just city and county and state, but for us, state parks was a good entry point for us to begin this type of partnership.

And so what we discovered was even through this process, it was very hard. We still had to jump through a lot of hoops and we were able to finally reach a service agreement that was approved in 2021 where we were allowed to operate at three different park units. Unfortunately, our partnership has been deeply impacted by the pollution and beach closures at Border Field State Park and Silver Strand State Beach, and these were some of the park units that we've operated the most in the past.

And so what we realized is that there were nonprofits across the state that were having challenges accessing their own state parks. And rather than have them go through a service agreement process like we did, which took time and energy, we believe a patchwork solution wouldn't solve the problem and that this was actually creating an inequitable situation, especially for the number of organizations impacted by this. They lack the overhead capacity, the legal expertise to be able to keep doing these agreements, right?

This was kind of the creation of why we decided to introduce Assembly Bill 1150, which I did provide a fact sheet, and we basically to create a statewide solution to a very simple barrier to remove a very simple barrier that would allow, basically authorize California State Parks to enter what we call community access agreements with nonprofits and allow the flexibility for that to be renewed for, go, up to five years, but also when in years where there might not be as many resources available in the budget, that it's very flexible in that sense and gives parks that authority to partnership.

Because right now there's no legal authority that they have to do this kind of thing. So we hope that you look into this and it's now in the Senate. Approach Committee. So we've worked very hard over the years on this issue and this is just one little barrier that we're working on.

If it's in senate, our probes, we know it's already passed our House. We did the right thing. We voted for it. That's right.

We want to thank you for your support.

I see you served over 2,000 youth through the program as of 2022. Thank you so much. Srishti Surana, our Student Advocate.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen of the California State Assembly Select Committee for State Parks. My name is Srishti Surana, and I am honored to be here before you today. I'm a high school senior from Los Osos High School in Rancho Cucamonga in the district of Majority Leader Emeritus Eloise Gomez Reyes, and I'm here as a participant in her young legislator program. Today I'll be describing my experience with the state park system and offering some ideas that I have for improvement.

If you could go to the next slide, please? And go ahead and click three times, sorry. Thank you. A little bit about me. So I'm interested in going into law and government. I'm passionate about social justice issues on all levels ranging from reproductive rights to environmental justice, and I'm a firm believer in the power of a good caramel latte.

I've had a fascination with politics since fifth grade when I was running to be part of Banyan Elementary Student Senate with the slogan--slide change please--'Don't Be Twisty, Vote For Srishti." Okay, so I still don't know what that one means, but that experience sparked my interest in public policy throughout middle school, high school, and here now. Next slide, please. When I first heard of the young legislator program, I knew I had to apply.

It sounded like a great opportunity to learn about the inner workings of politics, the legislative process, and more. And I was right. It's a wonderful program that has given me hands-on, unique, and invaluable experience to the intricacies of politics in California. I've connected with students from across the district, been offered opportunities just like this one, and learned all about different aspects of government, including higher education, law, civic engagement, and of course, our cherished state parks. Slide change, please.

From relaxing at San Jacinto as a two-year-old to fond memories of spending a day out at the lake with family and friends, I loved the state's park system. My parents always made sure that my brother and I spent time in nature learning to truly appreciate all it has to offer. And the state park system was a beautiful and convenient place to do just that. I always thought that our state parks were an amazing place to let us unwind and reconnect with nature.

It was great for recreation and lakeside retreats. However, I hadn't really thought about how much of a tremendous and underutilized resource it was until we took a trip to Silverwood State Park as part of the Young Legislator Program. This experience transformed my understanding. With the help of Ryan, an interpreter and educator, I learned about parts of the park that I had never really thought about before.

They guided us through the State Water Project and exposed us to diverse career avenues, such as becoming an environmental scientist or a park ranger. He led us on a captivating hike, all while educating us on the Serrano Indigenous people who once thrived on the lands of Silverwood, and taught us about all the conservation efforts in place. I marveled at the activities that were available, such as water skiing or camping or boating, and plus, I left with a pretty cool backpack.

The visit to the park ignited a deep appreciation for the state park and all that it does. They have the potential to preserve our natural heritage and create invaluable opportunities for learning. They're tools to uplift, tools that should be used more widely. I truly believe that more students and groups should take a trip there. There's so much to learn and enjoy. Next slide, please, and go ahead and click three times, sorry. With all this in mind, I have several ideas to enhance the state park.

First, increase accessibility and affordability. Second, increasing the historical and cultural knowledge available around the park, and finally, enhancing public safety. Go ahead and click, please, just once. Thank you. To my first point, learning about the park and its different aspects was such a great opportunity and experience for me, and I want to go ahead and expand that to other groups and children. I propose offering discounts or free day passes, such as all of the programs that all of you guys said to elementary schools or organizations.

There aren't that many programs available right now, and if there are, a lot of the youth aren't currently aware of them. For example, the California State Park's library pass would be a great opportunity to rent a trip to a state park, but not many people are really aware of it.

Spreading awareness to nonprofit organizations, educational groups, and schools about field trips and opportunities to go learn about state parks would increase the number of groups that go, potentially inspiring future conservationists and fostering a love for the natural world. It'd be a fun way for kids to get involved and further their studies of biology and environmental science, all while having a ton of fun. Next, please? Thank you. Next, I want to talk about the knowledge available around the park.

Since I was young, my dad and I have always read those informational signs together. You know, the ones that are on hikes or viewpoints that tell us about the lifespan of a Western scrub-jay. However, during our trip to the state park, I didn't see many of these signs. I believe that a new project to implement more of them throughout the park, on hiking trails, near lakes, etc, etc, can enhance public knowledge and understanding of different aspects of the park.

For example, during our trip, our interpreter Ryan showed us different animal pellets and told us all about them. He told us about how there was a singular otter that lived in Silverwood State Park and how to deal with bears. But by providing these signs, it would provide visitors with insight into all of this. It would provide visitors with insight into the indigenous community, into different plants and animals that are around the park, and it will give a young girl a nice bonding experience with her dad.

And finally--oh, sorry, next slide, please--thank you. And finally, increasing public safety. As we went around the park, we were informed that three rangers were currently employed at Silverwood State Park. I believe that a larger ranger presence, particularly closer to populated areas, could enhance visitor safety. Recognizing the unpredictability of nature, more rangers would ensure visitors feel more secure during their outings.

Now, I was curious about the public safety aspect of the park and how it was usually dealt with, so I decided to go ahead and inquire about it after a trip. How were the medical facilities and responses to emergencies? What I was told was pretty basic, things you would expect. Park rangers and aides had a radio channel, they communicated with, rangers went through years of training, etcetera.

But what shocked me was that there were no medical facilities inside of the park, only a firefighting training nearby if something were to happen, and the nearest hospital being a 30 minute drive away. I believe that in emergency situation, this could be harmful and detrimental to the patient. By developing comprehensive emergency plans, providing training for park staff, and most importantly, designating at least a basic medical facility in the park, we could ensure visitors safety and help more people.

All in all, I truly believe that state parks are a fantastic way to protect open space, help fight climate change, create health, recreational, and educational opportunities. Our trip to Silverwood State Park was absolutely eye opening. Thank you to Majority Leader Emeritus Gomez Reyes and Mariah Brunner for setting this trip up for us. State parks are hubs of education, recreation, and conservation, and I appreciate all of your effort in helping to preserve that. Thank you.

And in fact, I think you have a booklet that you want to--

Yeah, um, are they...

Don't throw it to her.

One of the things that the students did while they were there is they took turns being the photographer, and they put together a booklet, and we'll make sure that we I think they're... Okay. Make sure that you all receive those. I love the photos, and I loved each one of them provided a quote about their experience, and I think that was very good. Thank you so much. Shristi thank you. Thank you. Thank you to all of you. This is so important to be able to hear every aspect, and it isn't just the park, it's the foundation.

And to hear also from the parks, California, and the outdoor outreach for specific examples and the number of students that you work with. And Shristi of course, to hear a first hand experience that happened just two weeks ago. One week ago, Maria Bruner came from the district office. She is in charge of the program for our young legislators and is the one that said we need to visit a state park with our students, our young legislators, staffing.

The select committee from my office is Brandon Garcia, who is a senior legislative aide in the office. So with that, I'd like to open it up for questions from my colleagues. Yes, Ms. Dixon?

First of all, it's been a pleasure learning more about state parks than I've ever known, and I've visited many of them. And I have three state parks in my district. The Huntington Beach State Park, Crystal Cove. And there's another one, I guess. It's in Sunset Beach. Is it? I know that there are three, but it's wonderful to know. I mean, I think many people from an educational standpoint are familiar with national parks.

They probably aren't aware that they're state parks, and they're equally compelling, as important to our state and the quality of life in our state. I do have a quick question. I'm only quick because I have to go to another meeting. I just wanted to ask this. I'm very pleased that the foundation well, first of all, Mr. Quintero, you have an excellent presentation. You have many things going forward, and it's very satisfying to hear on the foundation. Just a quick question. Are you raising funds from private sources?

Yes.

And could you tell us how much you raise annually?

Well, our operating budget is about $8 million a year.

Great.

Most of that goes to our own operations and the work running our volunteer program and all the things that we're doing in park. But then a chunk. I actually have our partnerships manager, Haley Gonzalez, with us who administers our grants program, but we do grant rounds every year for parks.

Do you actively fundraise or through how do you do it?

Our primary form of fundraising is through direct mail and membership program, but we also have a really thriving institutional giving program and major individual.

I think that's fabulous because that supplements what the state provides as well, correct?

Well, I mean, we provide a lot of, it's more, I would say, in kind like the volunteer program that we do, I think 26 parks this year. But yes, about it varies. This last year, I think we gave 100,000 in grants, sometimes directly to parks, but often to partners attached to specific parks. One example of giving directly to parks, we provided $50,000 in grants for California State Parks Week events, so those went directly to parks for them to be able to buy materials and supplies and put on events to welcome people in.

Well, I think that's very important part of how we deliver these quality services. And one other final question. I know the national parks have ranger badges that children or anyone, any age group can collect. Do you have the same type of thing...?

And actually the new junior ranger badge program, you get a little wooden badge that has the name of the park where you got the badge, so kids are actually collecting badges.

They do. I know on a national level, I have friends who have collected them, and every now there's 60 some national parks in the country, and it's a wonderful program if you're doing it at the state level. Well, thank you, chair, for bringing this education to all of us. I value the information today and look forward to knowing more about our state parks as we go forward. Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Yes, I wanted to get back to kind of my original question on some of the extremely popular parks, a lot of them on the coast, but other places also, and how one gets into these parks. Secondly, I hear and I do have camping friends, and some of them are retired now, but I've also heard that sometimes reservations are made as everybody makes them, but then they're not utilized. So when somebody enters a campground, there can be some very priority spaces that aren't even being used.

And I'm understanding that if somebody doesn't make a cancellation, there isn't always consequence, I guess, so that these just go. I know that. And again, I've had a lot of experience at this as my family is camped, that they will be released at some point, maybe 24 hours into it. But that's only if somebody's kind of rolling in there looking for a space. So they're not always put back on the, if you want to say, portal to take those reservations.

And that because many of these reservations are made six months early. It doesn't appear that some people feel like, oh, I really need to cancel that five day or ten day. And because they're not paying any type of penalty, penalty, sometimes they go on. So if you could just address those two issues.

The policy that we have is if somebody doesn't show up, we generally will hold that space for them for 24 hours, because oftentimes people are traveling, and there's different things that can cause delays. And there's always pressure on parks, particularly the very popular ones, where we have people who show up at the gate who, for whatever reason, were not able to make a reservation. And those late cancellations end up being the perfect place where we do what's called first come, first serve.

We do know, we are well aware that there is a gap sometimes of campgrounds people not picking up their camping reservation and us being unable to fill that slot. And as I think you're aware, we have released a new request for proposal for a whole new camping reservation system. And we are on a fast track to get a robust new system in place that will help us address that program and be able to turn around those reservations efficiently. Because right now it's not. And I'm aware of that.

So just going back to it's kind of a repeated thought. So, for example, I'm only using Crystal Cove only because it's close to me and I've had a lot of experience. Those reservations sometimes open January 1 and just say it's 08:00 in the morning. Sometimes that campground or not campground, cabins are filled within three minutes.

That's right.

Knowing many people because that's where I live. I don't live in Crystal Cove, I live in North Orange County, but people who want to go there, they're telling me the way they do that is they actually go on with five or six computers and have all these kind of hitting the keys until they get, you know, that's the way to get in.

But what it concerns me is that many, many working families don't have that access or opportunity to be sitting there, to be able to get into these campgrounds that way. So is there a way to kind of address that?

I think that the new RFP which we have released is intended to address that very problem. There are actually over a thousand technical requirements in the new RFP and we're expecting that in late September, we're going to be getting live demonstrations from the selected Bidders, so just in another month, we'll be looking at who can do this.

And we are actually looking at the best reservations in the United States at being the groups that we're looking at to come in and take care of state park reservations. And we expect that by late October of this year, we will be awarding a new contract and we hope to have an outstanding reservation system that addresses many of the shortfalls of our current system by next. And it should be going live next fall. And we have all the dates laid out in the Bid package right now and we'd be happy to talk with you.

Thank you. That makes me really happy. And I'll just end with I'm really impressed with all the outreach you're doing to communities. I love the fourth grade pass as I was a fourth grade teacher. And I really appreciate that, because you're exactly right that unless somebody has the transportation or even the funding, and we know it's much more low cost than an amusement park, but they just don't know that. So I really appreciate because we met maybe two, three, four years ago. I don't know how long it's been. But it's been a while. So I appreciate those new access for families and young individuals. So thank you.

I think fourth graders are also the sweet spot of the kids who want to take their families on these vacations. It's a great age, and it is.

They'll love their parents well.

And as a teacher, a lot of times there's always this annual mission project that I think that's changing a little bit too. But that was a way that let's go to this mission, and families would do that. But to move that now into the park system, I think, and that's the age where kids will remember, and they'll want to continue to do those. And that's how it was instilled with me, which was camping at the beach. So then when I had my own children, it's like, we're going to go do these things. Not as much as I want to.

Well, and I mentioned reexamining our past initiative with state parks, and what we are focusing on there is exactly what you're talking about in terms of telling the more comprehensive stories and what we know now, including the stories about the missions. And it's a big job, but we're not afraid of the challenge. It's really exciting.

Thank you. Great job, everybody.

Thank you.

Well, wonderful. I have a few questions. Honestly, thank you all so much. Just so much information was provided, and I agree with my colleagues. As you know, we're at the end of session, so my colleagues have said, I'm going to stop by. I want to hear more about it. But we have so many committees that are being heard now. The map of the parks, very important. I thank you for providing that to us.

And we provided a copy also in the literature that we provided to each of our Members, and they will each receive these in their offices as well. In the slides, that the program that you provided to us. The quote that I saw there says, the largest and most diverse recreational, natural, and cultural heritage holdings of any state agency in the nation. Talking about the state park system, I think it speaks to the cultural value our parks have.

I wanted to know a little bit more on how state parks are selected. I noticed that the map takes us through July 1 of 2022. Are there any plans for more parks? I think you mentioned there's one in the works. What cultural and equity factors are considered when selecting these state parks?

Thank you, chair. That's a great question. We keep a list of prioritized parks right now, there's about 200 on there. And we don't publish the list because something can happen that shifts the prioritization of what becomes available or other factors like the funding for a particular project. But we actually are really focused on looking at park poor communities. And I think the newest state park, which is Dorios, which is 8 miles west of Modesto, is a really good example. It's in the Central Valley.

There are two rivers at this park. It's about 1600 acres. It'd probably be more than that once it's completed, but it offers water, recreation opportunities. There are sections of old oak tree forests there. So you literally have heat refuge for low income families in the valley. And it has, right across the San Joaquin river. It's the San Joaquin and the Tuolumne rivers that are there. Across the San Joaquin River is the San Joaquin Wildlife Refuge. And honestly, I've been there several times, and at certain times of the year, this is not an exaggeration. You feel like you're on the African savannah.

Wow.

And it's 20 minutes from Modesto. It's astonishing.

I know Maria is already figuring out how she's going to get a bus to take us out.

Well, we'll let you know when we have the opening event. We hope to do that early this winter.

Be her young legislators also want to come with us, right?

Here's also something important, and that is that we look at parks that are most shovel ready things that could be easily opened up without a lot of investment and work. But there's another benefit about this park that I think is really critical. We're at a time in history where we need to be thinking about multiple benefits. This park actually reconnects a 1600 acre floodplain to an aquifer. This is a groundwater recharge park.

And this winter, with the atmospheric rivers, there was water going not just past the park, but into the aquifer. We need more of those. Certainly with the water issues that we face and also with parks, we are looking at creating partnerships with adjacent land managers. And I'll give one example. Mount Tam, Mount Tamalpais in Marin County.

There is a nonprofit group called well, it's called One Tam, but there are four agencies that manage that mountain the Marine Municipal Water District, state Parks, marin County Parks, and National Park Service. Since 2014, they worked together in setting priorities on how to manage the watershed and the landscape. And so they are able to attract funding unlike anything you've ever seen. And it makes sense because we're working cross boundaries, thinking about the resources, thinking about the watershed.

So that's something else we're doing in existing parks is we're thinking about how do we connect with our partners and really enhance our partnership. And I also might mention, through all the emergencies that we've been in in the last three years, the level of cooperation between state and federal agencies in our public lands is really something to see and understand. We actually meet and work together. Let me give you an example. Calaveras Big trees, which is in Calaveras County.

We have done the preparation there to do a big prescription fire there. We've been working with Cal Fire and obviously state parks and all of the other agencies that work in fire management and including the national park service. And what we're doing in those areas is we're bringing the best science and resources to support each other in doing effective resources management. And also just right now, we have 100 state parks where we are prepared to do prescription fire application to reduce fire risk.

Well, thank you. Thank you very much for Rachel. You all are basically the main advocates for our state parks here. With the Legislature, what do you consider as the biggest barrier for you in your advocacy? Some may say it's a lack of understanding on our part as the legislators. Or is there something else?

I think for us, the challenge is articulating the value of this system, right. With all of the other competing priorities that you as legislators are dealing with. We like to say parks are first in our hearts but last in our wallets. And that is my experience, unfortunately, with the Legislature.

I think also Sonia's example was really quite good about sometimes there's a lack of authority, one missing sentence in the parks code that if it were there, then state parks would have the authority to do something that they don't currently have the authority to do. So there's a lot of sort of articulating. What are these very technical, sometimes very subtle changes that can have a huge impact on communities accessing their parks.

Wonderful. Thank you. Thank you so much. Kinley, the diverse population that you're serving, people who have benefited specifically on the route to parks, we really appreciate that. The grants and I know you talked a little about this. Is there something that you want your grantees to share with you that you would consider the most important point?

We're always looking for the transformational stories and that willingness and the hook that they want to go back, that this is the opportunity that's creating their future connection to these places. And it's why we've started to connect that route to parks approach with the career pathways piece, because it's not just that we want people to visit. We want them to see themselves in these places as potential stewards in a very official capacity as well.

So we're often looking for what's the next step after you had this experience, right. What will bring you back? Was it a story that you heard from a state park interpreter? Was it the hike that you took? Right. We heard some of that today, right, even from our young legislator.

Yes.

We're looking for the hard data, but we're looking for the stories because that's what we can unpack, we believe, to understand how that next level of engagement happens.

Thank you. Sonia, I first want to thank you for taking the trip up here to Sacramento as well. You've had quite a trek also getting up here and promoting the outdoor equity. So important, obviously one of the important issues that we want to discuss and you did offer some suggestions. What would you consider of all that you've talked about, you talked about some of the barriers and you've already been working towards them. What would you consider the one that if you had only one issue that you'd be able to push forward in legislation, what would that one be? She says, do not limit me. The top one, just the top one.

I would say more funding for these outdoor education programs and access. I think that is every year we come back at the Legislature and have to fight for crumbs every time for program. Unfortunately, it can't be funded through a bond.

And I know there has been some discussions about that, but these are critical educational programs and experiences that I remember just listening to our youth speaker, even if at an early age, if it's just one experience that one nonprofit organization can do with just a bit of funding and assistance, that makes a huge impact. I think the Legislature should be able to come up with some creative solutions to help fund these programs. So I hope to work together with you to come up with some of those solutions.

Wonderful. I sit on sub four, so a lot of those requests come through. Assembly Member Quirk Silva is already thinking, how are we going to get more money in here? And I know that when Shristi was saying this is what we need to make it better, everything that she's suggesting. But this is so important because if our students are saying this is what we need, we really have to reevaluate. Shristi, I'm so glad that you were here.

It's a privilege to have you as a constituent, as one of our young legislators. One thing that you think should be you had a whole list, it's costing too much. One thing that you think would be the most important thing for the youth to have them become more interested in our state parks.

So I think the thing that would be really helpful is I was doing some research actually on state parks and national parks, even globally. And I found this thing in Canada and the UK where they're doing something called a park prescription pass. So this is really interesting in that if a patient were to go to the doctor or something like that and say, hey, I'm dealing with a lot of stress, I'm dealing with a lot of anxiety.

And we know right now we have such a huge mental health crisis, especially with young populations, with even my peers, I see a lot of my friends and stuff dealing with a lot. And if my friends and a lot of the youth population were to go to the doctor and say, I'm dealing with this, this and this, the doctor would be able to give them a little prescription that's a one year park to their parks, to the state parks.

All right, Ms. Quirk Silva and I think these suggestions that you all have given, these are things that I think that we need to work towards. You all are the experts, and some of my other colleagues who are also Members of this select committee want to know more, want to do more. And I think that information to the rest of the public and then resources back to our state parks and to those who support our state parks, I think is extremely important.

I want to thank you again so much for taking your time to be here with us and providing us information. There's so much more that you're going to share with us. And I guarantee you we'll be calling you because as we look at our legislation for the future or as we look at budget requests and getting those in and finding opportunities for grants, we've got to make sure that we get those prescriptions from the doctors and then we're able to Fund them.

Again, thank you all so very much. We do want to provide an opportunity for 1 minute. We'll have to provide just 1 minute if anybody wants to give a public comment. All right, seeing no one, I'd like to thank you all for being here. And until our next select committee on state parks hearing, I stand adjourned. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Bye.