California’s state parks serve multiple important functions. It’s time we prioritize them | Opinion

At the opening of the Central Valley’s Dos Rios last June, morning sunlight glittered off the new state park’s two rivers. California’s leaders, park advocates and local residents gathered to celebrate the first new state park in over a decade.

It’s a space that will serve many purposes, such as a community gathering spot and a restored floodplain that will help protect communities downstream. Dos Rios symbolizes what California’s state park system can and should become: An accessible public space to Californians and an important solution to the climate crisis.

California’s elected officials should prioritize three important goals to make this a reality. We must protect core funding for the California Department of Parks and Recreation (California State Parks) in order to sustain its mission; we must ensure the recently passed Proposition 4 investments truly add something new; and we must make state parks accessible to more people.

California State Parks oversees a quarter of our coastline as well as redwood forests, lakes and deserts. The agency is tasked with stewarding all these places, but it’s hampered by boom-and-bust budgeting cycles that leave it unable to engage in strategic, long-term park management.

California State Parks receives substantial funding in prosperous years, but these resources are often restricted to one-time projects rather than ongoing operations or staffing. In lean years, budget deficits lead to drastic across-the-board cuts. For example, in 2021, the state budget included $11 million for sea level rise adaptation planning. But then, in the 2024-25 budget, much of this $11 million was clawed back. One step forward, one step back.

This year, we must ensure funding allocated to state parks stays with state parks.

Last year, California voters approved Prop. 4, The Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024, which aims to address critical needs in California’s state parks by investing $425 million in deferred maintenance, sea level rise adaptation and park access. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to safeguard California’s natural resources and address the escalating impacts of climate change on our parks.

The damage our state parks are already experiencing from climate change is clear. We have seen it in the Palisades Fire’s catastrophic damage to Will Rogers State Park and Topanga State Park, and in the unprecedented winter storms that destroyed Seacliff State Beach’s infrastructure and a historic pier in Santa Cruz.

To maximize the bond’s impact, California’s leaders must ensure Prop. 4 investments build on existing programs and creating new initiatives rather than replacing or reallocating current funding streams. This approach will ensure critical, ongoing projects are not undermined while ensuring California innovates and expands its conservation efforts.

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s current budget proposal is concerning; it uses Prop. 4 dollars to cover $82 million in state park expenses previously covered by the state’s general fund. We hope to work with the Legislature to address these concerns.

Finally, we must ensure that more visitors have equitable access to state parks. Dos Rios is a great addition to an area that has few state parks. We should pursue new land acquisitions and increase park access in urban areas and under-resourced communities and fully fund the operations of our current parks, ensuring that every park is adequately staffed.

In turn, California’s state parks will give much back to visitors. These parks are classrooms where visitors can engage with the state’s rich history, diverse cultures and pressing environmental issues. As national conversations about climate change and equity become increasingly stifled, California can tell the whole truth — this includes acknowledging the complex history of these lands, celebrating the state’s cultural and ecological diversity and openly discussing climate threats and solutions.

By fostering public dialogue, state parks can inspire action and awareness while maintaining their role as places for learning and reflection.

This story was originally published February 3, 2025 at 6:00 AM.