Sacramento, CA…California State Parks will receive $24.8 million for state-established outdoor recreation priority projects from the Federal Fiscal Year 2023 Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). This allocation was announced today by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland.

“California State Parks is thrilled to be receiving a portion of this federal funding as public demand for access to outdoor recreation continues to grow every year,” said Armando Quintero, California State Parks Director. “The department received a large number of applications for funds and will be working to prioritize those with the greatest need in the coming months.”

In anticipation of this funding, State Parks conducted an extensive statewide competitive grant application process resulting in 77 applications requesting approximately $154.5 million. Applications received by the June 2023 deadline are currently under review and will be funded by this recent allocation.

Since its inception in 1965, the LWCF program in California has funded more than 1,600 projects totaling $360.9 million. Recent examples include:

• City and County of San Francisco – Bayview Park Improvement ($375,225) 

Scope: Construct a new physical fitness path, exercise equipment, play structures, gathering/picnic, and BBQ area, and improve existing pedestrian access points within Bay View Playground in the City of San Francisco.

• City of Kerman – Eastside Community Park ($2,500,000) 

Scope: Create the new 15.6-acre Eastside Community Park in the City of Kerman. Construct a natural lake area with an education interpretive trail, a regulation-sized combination soccer field and baseball field, ADA nature-themed playground, a water spray park, a par course and a community garden.

• City of South Gate – Urban Orchard ($3,000,000) 

Scope: Create the new Urban Orchard Park in the City of South Gate. Construct a new playground, walking path and bikeway, exercise equipment, community garden, and restrooms.

LWCF grants provide funding for the acquisition or development of land to create new outdoor recreation opportunities for the health and wellness of Californians. This program is in line with the Outdoor Access for All initiative championed by Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and the Natural Resources Agency’s Outdoors for All initiative. This effort expands outdoor access to all Californians through focused investments in open space infrastructure, outdoor programming, and improvements to permit applications, with a priority of expanding access in underserved communities.

To learn more about the LWCF grants program, visit parks.ca.gov/LWCF.