California State Parks Foundation Awards $135,000 in Grants in Response to California Wildfires

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 11, 2021 

CONTACT:
Haley Gonzales
Haley@calparks.org

15 state parks and park partners will receive grants to help restore fragile habitats and rebuild parks, while building a climate resilient state park system.

Sacramento, CA – California State Parks Foundation announced today that it has awarded $135,000 in grants to 15 parks and park partners to help parks recover from the devastating 2020 wildfires.

“The 2020 California wildfires were horrifically destructive, and our beloved state parks have undergone devastating damage. There is a real need to restore fragile habitats and rebuild parks, while building climate resiliency to mitigate the impact of climate change,” said Rachel Norton, Executive Director of California State Parks Foundation.

The Wildfire Resiliency and Prevention Grant opportunity includes $135,917 in grant funding that supports activities resulting in one or more of the following outcomes:

1. Assessment – Assess fire impact and climate threats to the park, risks to natural habitats, biodiversity, and parklands (both built and natural environments). Grant activities may include, but not limited to, support post-fire recovery plans, general/project plans for climate impacts and climate response, surveys and assessments to identify and prioritize climate resiliency projects.
2. Restoration – Restore the natural and built environments impacted by fires and other climate change events. Grant activities may include, but not limited to, restoring native species, stabilizing trails/hillsides, rebuilding campgrounds, historic, and working structures.
3. Preparedness – Prepare for the real threat of climate change in parks and build a climate resilient California. Grant activities may include, but not limited to wildfire prevention work, removal of invasive species, clearing brush/ overgrowth, creating defensible space.
4. Education – Raise awareness of impact of climate change and ways to engage in climate resilience activities. Grant activities may include, but not limited to, educational materials, highlights impact of climate change, what Californians can do make a more climate resilient California.

Here are the grantees California State Parks Foundation is proud to support:

Northern California Grantees

Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association
Anderson Marsh State Historic Park

California Native Plant Society
Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Henry W. Coe State Park

California State Parks
Mount Diablo State Park

California State Parks, Bay Area District Natural Resource Management Program
Trione-Annadel State Park, Sugarloaf Ridge State Park

California State Parks, Sierra District
Ed Z’Berg Sugar Pine Point State Park

Gold Country Avian Studies
Big Basin Redwoods State Park

Sonoma Ecology Center
Sugarloaf Ridge State Park

South Yuba River Citizens League
South Yuba River State Park

Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods
Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, Austin Creek State Recreation Area

Southern California Grantees

Anahuak Youth Sports Association
Rio de Los Angeles State Park, Los Angeles State Historic Park, Bowtie Parcel

California State Parks/Poppy Reserve Mojave Desert Interpretive Association
Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State Park

California State Parks in partnership with Chino Hills State Park Interpretive Association and Hills For Everyone
Chino Hills State Park

Los Angeles Audubon Society
Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook State Park, Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area

Support for our Wildfire Resiliency and Prevention Fund was generously provided by Edison International, as well as our California State Parks Foundation members and donors.

Learn more about the Wildfire Resiliency and Prevention Grant round, and our grantees at https://www.calparks.org/blog/wildfire-resiliency-and-prevention-grant-round.

About California State Parks Foundation
California State Parks Foundation is an independent, member-supported nonprofit that mobilizes a diverse network of Californians to be active champions for our state parks. At California State Parks Foundation, we believe that all Californians are essential to sustaining our state parks. Every day, we inform and inspire current and future generations of park champions, enabling them to be the passionate advocates our state parks need. Because when we build a movement of park supporters, we ensure the long-term sustainability of our incredible state park treasures. Learn more at www.calparks.org, or find California State Parks Foundation on Facebook, or Instagram and Twitter (@calparks).

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