Parks Pass Grant

Parks Pass Logo

For information about circulating the Parks Passes, visit our Parks Pass page.

Purpose

Research shows that spending time in the outdoors is associated with better mental and physical health, and that many Californians face barriers to accessing their parks including proximity, not feeling welcome due to language barriers, economic barriers, and not being exposed to the outdoors. California has a wealth of state parks, and many public libraries are likely within driving distance of one. By reducing barriers to park access and partnering with entities such as public libraries, the state can help more Californians explore the outdoors and gain the benefits of our parks.

The California State Library Parks Pass program distributed 26,000 free vehicle-day use hangtags to all library jurisdictions in the state for circulation to the public. The goal of the grant program is to generate positive measurable impacts in the areas of health, natural resource stewardship, and historical and cultural connections with an equity lens to complement the passes. The objectives of the program are:

  • Advancing access to Californians to state parks via the California State Library Parks Pass.
  • Improving the mental and physical health of Californians.
  • Empowering under-resourced communities to take advantage of the benefits of California’s State Park System in alignment with the California for All Kids and California Outdoors for All initiatives.

Current Status

In Round One, 38 public library grantees were awarded up to $5,000 for projects including circulating outdoor gear, storywalks (ranging from original picture books to mobile storywalks to native plant gardens with signage), and programming (ranging from bilingual bird walks to inclusive presentations to trolley rides in parks), to be completed by June 30, 2023.

In Round Two, grants of up to $75,000 were available. The grant application closed January 30, 2023. Grantees will be announced in April.

Application Instructions

Eligibility and requirements

Parks Pass grant funding was open to all public libraries circulating a California State Library Parks Pass:

  • No grant minimum
  • Project maximum: $75,000
  • Library jurisdictions with up to 14 outlets may apply for one grant 
  • Library jurisdictions with 15–30 outlets may apply for two grants 
  • Library jurisdictions with 31 or more outlets may apply for three grants  

Current Parks Pass grantees for the 22-23 grant were eligible to apply for this grant opportunity. Reporting requirements and deadlines will transfer to those attached to this grant.

Requirements include:

  • joining the Community of Practice, every other month virtual trainings, meetings, presentations, and conversations with other grantees that build knowledge and skills
  • Libraries will be required to gather information on outcomes and outputs. The Evaluation Toolkit is available online, and the Manage Your Grant page will have report templates and information. Midyear reports will be due September 1, 2023. Final reports will be due March 30, 2024.

Timeline

Successful applicants can expect to receive project funds up to 8–10 weeks after the payment claim form is received by the State Library.

  • March – February: every other month 1-hour Community of Practice sessions to share resources, best practices, training, etc.
  • Mid-project Narrative and Financial reports due: September 1
  • February 29: Program period ends
  • March 2024: Final reporting and evaluation

To Apply

The application closed January 30, 2023.

For planning purposes only

To be uploaded with your application

Payment Schedule

In-full payments to be issued for grants in the amount of $20,000 or less upon receipt of the grantee’s signed claim form and signed budget form (both included in award packet). It can take up to ten weeks for a grantee to receive funds from the State Library after the signed claim form and/or reports are received by the Fiscal Office. The project may begin before funds are received, after the award packet is signed.

Grants totaling more than $20,000 will follow a 90%/10% payment schedule.

  • 90% to be issued by CSL upon receipt of the grantee’s signed claim form and signed budget form (both included in award packet)
  • 10% to be issued by CSL upon approval of final reports

Acknowledgments

Grant recipients must ensure that the California State Library shall receive credit as the funding program and that the State of California and California State Parks likewise are acknowledged as the source of funds.

Unallowable costs

  • Food and refreshments
  • Fundraising activities, including grant writing
  • Cash reserves and endowment holdings; purchase of land, buildings or major construction
  • Non-educational social activities such as receptions, parties, galas
  • Gifts/prizes/incentives; cash prizes, or gift certificates with monetary value
  • Contributions and donations to other entities
  • Expenses incurred before the start of the grant period or after the ending date of the grant period without extension request and approval
  • Lobbying activities that are intended to influence the actions, policies, or decisions of government officials

Grant Categories

Libraries could apply for additional California State Library Parks Passes to use for their grant programs during the grant period. All grant-funded programs included outreach activities that focus on underserved communities that face barriers to park access. For more information, see the Equity, Diversity, Belonging and Inclusion section.

Libraries chose one of the following four categories as a primary category.

  • State Parks-based Programming: projects that create library programming to build meaningful connections to and memorable experiences in state parks for underserved communities. Projects may include a transportation component. Examples include a library hosted field trip/tour of a State Park, outdoor skills workshops, teen hikes followed by a flora and fauna art workshop, author talks/poetry reading in parks, local plant walks, etc., in which the library provides transportation for library patrons to participate.  All programs that may include a transportation component must check with their municipality to determine the appropriate insurance and liability requirements. Additional State insurance requirements for programs including transportation are pending and will be addressed after selection notification.
  • Interpretive Materials: projects that create meaningful connections to and memorable experiences for underserved communities by creating accessible, useful, and creative materials for supporting access to State Parks and the outdoors. Activities include, but are not limited to: outdoor art pieces, trail preview or “how-to” videos, trail maps in multiple languages, indigenous language story walks, nature guides by children, etc. We encourage libraries to work with local artists to facilitate the creation of these materials. For resources about this type of program, please see The Toolkit For Health, Arts, Parks, and Equity, The Field Guide for Creative Placemaking and Parks, and A Handbook for Artists Working in the Community.
  • Parks Pass Programming: programming projects that target underserved communities, including outreach, collection development, or other programmatic activities related to the Parks Pass Program goal and outcomes that do not fit into the categories above. Examples include circulating outdoor gear, storywalks in parks, or programming inspired by or focused on State Parks. Programs and outreach should target underserved communities who face barriers to park access. For examples, see our current grantees.
  • Adult Literacy Program Partnership: projects that build a partnership with the library’s existing adult literacy program(s). For example, tutor and learner created adult new reader books focused on local state parks, literacy-reserved outdoor gear, field trips, etc.

Project Partnership, Community Connection and Public Program Requirements

Successful applicants demonstrated a commitment to community engagement and equitable programming and services. Co-designing and collaborating with communities was encouraged. A minimum of one project partner or community connection was required. All proposals included plans to develop meaningful public programming opportunities with collaboration encouraged within the library, local jurisdiction, community-based organizations, tribal communities, and schools, where appropriate. Active participation in every other month Community of Practice is required, as is sharing of best practices and lessons learned, which will include meetings and trainings.

Your grant monitors will support you in creating connections with local State Parks.

Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Resources

Successful applicants developed strategies to address equity, access, and inclusion in a manner authentic to the participating community. Successful applicants demonstrated how programs, project partners, community connections, and resources intend to engage and support communities who face park access barriers. Below are tools used to determine which communities may be facing park access barriers in your service area.

Additionally, these organizations are working on park access equity and may be a resource for developing partnerships.

Questions?

Please see our FAQs for more questions, or contact parkspass@library.ca.gov.

Additional Resources

The California State Library Parks Pass program is a partnership between California State Parks and the California State Library, supported with funds from the State of California.