State Parks

Green hills with orange California poppies in bloom in foreground in Chino Hills State Park, California.

Making California State Parks More Climate-Resilient

A recently released report offers recommendations for keeping state parks healthy and robust, including acquiring additional land for conservation and recreation.

April 22, 2024 - Spectrum News 1

View of Topanga Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains.

California's Top-Rated Park for Hikers Is Inside the City of LA

According to AllTrails, a popular fitness and travel mobile app, Topanga State Park has many highly-rated trails, most of which are of moderate difficulty and vary in length from three to seven miles.

April 2, 2024 - The Travel

Aerial view of three men using track chair mobility devices on lake beach in Michigan state park.

Michigan State Parks Make Headway on Accessibility

Among other efforts, the state parks system leads the nation in the number of track chairs, a mobility device designed to help people with mobility issues enjoy park trails and beaches.

January 2, 2024 - The Manchester Mirror

Sign showing accessible hiking trail sign with blurred forest in background.

How States Are Improving Accessibility for Parks and Trails

State parks are introducing adaptive mobility devices to help more visitors enjoy natural spaces.

November 21, 2023 - Governing

Traffic on road at Midway Geyser Basin

Parks Overwhelmed by Record Numbers of Visitors

Already understaffed and underfunded, the agencies that manage state and national parks are struggling to keep up with the spike in demand for outdoor recreation over the past year.

July 4, 2021 - High Country News

Texas Capitol Building

Proposed Bills Would Protect Funding for Texas State Parks

When lean times hit, money for state parks is some of the first to get diverted to other purposes. A package of legislation proposed in the Texas State legislature would change that.

May 4, 2019 - Houston Chronicle

Wilderness Trails

No Dogs Allowed at One Colorado State Park

A state park in the Colorado Springs area tried allowing dogs on trails over the summer, but too many people complained about the impact of the canines on the wilderness experience.

September 22, 2017 - The Denver Post

Pennsylvania State Park

Pennsylvania Legislators Propose New Commercial Development in State Parks

A pair of legislative proposals in the Pennsylvania State Legislature would open the door to private development in the state park system.

June 27, 2016 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Golf Course Plans for 280 Acres of State Park Land Abandoned in Oregon

A controversial and unprecedented deal that would have privatized 280 acres of state-owned Bandon State Natural Area have fizzled out thanks to new requirements from the Bureau of Land Management.

October 1, 2015 - The Oregonian

Sequoia State Park

An App for California State Parks

California's Department of Parks and Recreation is getting into the app business. It is hoped that CaliParks will help improve access to the state's parks for young people and minorities.

March 21, 2015 - The Bold Italic

Friday Funny: Typo Results In 10,000 Acre Wyoming Skate Park

Doyle Redland reports on the accidental new construction, which has galvanized both sides of the preservation vs. access argument.

October 7, 2011 - The Onion

Posh Hollywood 'Hood Allowed Temporary Gate to Keep Out Partiers

Solar Drive, deep in the Hollywood Hills, is a ritzy block of expensive homes. But over the past year, an empty mansion was overrun by squatters and partiers. Permission for the gate is temporary, but hikers are upset by blocked routes.

September 18, 2011 - The Los Angeles Times

The 11 Most Endangered Places

The National Trust for Historic Preservation presents its annual list of the most endangered places in the U.S. This year, natural landscapes take some of the spotlight away from architecture and the built environment.

May 21, 2010 - National Trust For Historic Preservation

Finding Efficiency At Home, In the Trash

Solar-powered trash compactors, while not cheap, pay for themselves relatively quickly. With state and city budgets more liquid thanks to stimulus money, municipalities are snapping them up.

September 11, 2009 - Slate.com

Budweiser Beach, CA?

With the new California budget slashing state park funding, as many as 100 parks and beaches could close. Park officials are seeking funding to keep parks open, including corporate sponsorship opportunities.

July 31, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

220 California Parks to be Terminated?

With California facing a $24.3 billion deficit, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has released a budget that eliminates $70 million in funding for the state's parks system.

June 2, 2009 - Yahoo! News

Proposed Road Through Park Blocked

The federal government has blocked plans to build a 16-mile road through a Southern California state park, mainly over environmental concerns.

December 23, 2008 - San Francisco Chronicle

Governor Looks to Slice Park With Power Line

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is pushing forward with plans to run a power line through the middle of one of the state's parks -- much to the chagrin of environmentalists.

April 30, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

'Make My Day' Meets 'Hasta La Vista'

In a classic Hollywood showdown that could only happen in California politics, Gov. Schwarzenegger axed actor-director-former Carmel, CA mayor Clint Eastwood from the Parks Commission at the expiration of his term after his 'no-vote' on a toll road.

March 21, 2008 - The San Francisco Chronicle

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