Parks Pass: Frequently Asked Questions

For the public

What is the California State Library Parks Pass and who can use it?

In partnership with the First Partner’s Office, the California State Library, and the California State Parks, Californians can check out free vehicle day-use entry to over 200 participating state park units with their library cards. Just check out the Pass with your library card at your local public library, hang it on your rearview mirror, and park for free at participating parks while you have it checked out. Getting a library card is free and easy, just ask at your local library. Find your local public library at library.ca.gov/branches. The pass is not available at the California State Library.

Will all the public libraries in the state have passes to check out?

Yes, passes were sent to the 1,184 public libraries in the state. They are not available at the California State Library. Please contact your local library for availability. Find your local public library at library.ca.gov/branches.

Is the pass valid at all 279 state parks?

No. The Library Parks Pass is valid for vehicle day use at 200+ participating state park units of the California State Park System operated by State Parks. It is not valid at units operated by federal and local government, private agencies or concessionaires, state vehicular recreation areas, parks not open to the public, for per-person entry or tour fees (such as museums), or at parks that do not require a day-use pass. Also, the pass is not valid for per-person entry or tour fees (such as museums), boat use, camping, group use or sites, special events, additional/extra vehicle fees, sanitation disposal use or for supplemental fees. See a list of ineligible parks and full terms and conditions online, or download a flyer with the list. Please note that many parks offer free entrance to patrons who visit on foot rather than by vehicle, and that vehicle-day use fees vary.

Does the pass cover camping fees?

No. The pass entitles the user to a free vehicle day use entry for one passenger vehicle with capacity of nine people or less or one highway licensed motorcycle at 200+ participating state park units.

Also, the pass is not valid for per-person entry or tour fees (such as museums), boat use, group use or sites, special events, additional/extra vehicle fees, sanitation disposal use or for supplemental fees. A list of ineligible park units and full terms and conditions is available at CheckOutCAStateParks.com.

Can more than one car or a bus use the pass?

No. Below you will find some details on the pass:

  • Valid for entry of one passenger vehicle with capacity of nine people or less or one highway licensed motorcycle at participating state park units.
  • Valid any day of the week, including holidays, if space is available. Pass does not guarantee parking space.
  • Pass does not provide access to State Vehicular Recreation Areas (off-highway vehicles parks).
  • Not valid for per-person entry or tour fees (such as Hearst Simeon State Historical Monument, Railroad Museum, etc.), camping, boat use fees, group use or sites, special events, oversized vehicle fees, additional/extra vehicle fees, swimming pool fees, sanitation disposal use, or for supplemental fees.

A list of ineligible park units and full terms and conditions is available at CheckOutCAStateParks.com or on this map of eligible parks and all library branches in California.

Can the pass be used for national parks or city parks?

No, the pass is only valid within the 200+ participating state park units.

How many public libraries in the state?

Passes were sent to 1,184 public libraries in the state and all of them will receive California State Library Parks Passes through this program.

What happens if I lose or my pass is stolen?

Please contact your library and let them know your pass was lost or stolen. They will let you know the replacement fee if there is one.

How are these passes funded?

The 2021/22 State Budget included initiatives to advance equitable access to state parks and open spaces for all Californians. A $9.1 million one-time General Fund investment was included in the budget to launch a state parks pilot to expand parks pass distribution, especially for youth in disadvantaged communities. The pilot includes a “California State Park Adventure” program that provides free day use passes for fourth graders and their families, a California State Library Pass, and the revamped Golden Bear Pass Program with CDSS. Under the library pass program, State Parks provided physical passes to every public library in the state for checkout by library patrons. After the explosive popularity of the passes across California, the 2022/23 State Budget included an additional $13.5 million for the distribution of more passes and grants to libraries.

What are the goals of the California State Library Parks Passes?

Advance safe and equitable access to state parks and open spaces for All Californians who have a library card at any public library statewide. By removing the economic barrier of vehicle day-use fees and connecting communities with their libraries, the benefits of parks will be expanded. Programming that complement the passes should also meet goals of health, natural resource stewardship, and historical and cultural connections through an equity lens.

For libraries

General

Can these passes be used as summer reading or other program prizes?

No, these passes must be circulated to library users.

Can we circulate other passes in conjunction with these programs?

Yes! The more parks passes the merrier. If you would like to purchase more State Parks passes to circulate, a similar pass is the Explorer pass – it doesn’t allow entry into the same parks, but closely matches it. For more information, contact the California State Parks Park Pass office at parkpassinfo@parks.ca.gov.

Additional California State Library Parks Passes will not be available for purchase. Please contact us at parkspass@library.ca.gov if you have excessive holds lists for the passes. The State Library and Department of Parks and Recreation will be evaluating checkout patterns, and usage of the passes in the early months of the program, and 500 additional passes will be sent to library branches with an identified additional need.

What can we do about patrons that are complaining about long hold lists for the passes?

Please let them know that vehicle day-use fees into California State Parks range from $4-20, with most parks costing $10, and that day-use fees are an important funding source for parks. In addition, many parks offer free entrance to patrons who visit on foot rather than by vehicle. Please contact us at parkspass@library.ca.gov if you have excessive wait lists for the passes.

Other pass programs that provide free access to state parks include the Golden Bear Pass program, which provides CalWORKS recipients free admission to the same parks. Many veterans have free access, and fourth graders have free access to 19 state parks through the Adventure Pass. A good website to share with users is parks.ca.gov/passes  and this flyer details all the passes available under the CA Outdoors For All Program.

Is there anything libraries will need to provide as part of the pilot program?

The State Library has tools to evaluate the program, including a quarterly circulation survey for libraries. We will also be asking for circulation data for the passes and for information on any complementary programming or outreach. Patrons can scan the QR code on the back of the pass to access a user survey. In addition, State Parks would appreciate being notified about lost or stolen passes so that they can deactivate them and replace them.

If a pass that has been decommissioned is returned to the library after you have already received a replacement, please mail it to:

Department of Parks & Recreation
Attn: Library Pass Program
P.O. Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296-0001

Circulation

How long is circulation period?

Libraries may determine their own circulation period. Libraries have found success in both a “Lucky Day” and reservable policies. We suggest the passes checkout for a period of 1–3 weeks.

Is there a limit on how many times patrons can check out a pass?

We suggest no limits on number of times the pass is checked out, but to monitor if policies need to be adjusted if users are unable to access the pass fairly.

Can we charge an overdue fine? May we charge replacement costs if the pass is lost?

A processing fee may be charged, but to encourage park access equity, we encourage that no or low fees be charged for replacement, and no late fees be charged. Lost passes will be decommissioned by the State Parks so they won’t be valid at park units, and a replacement pass will be sent to your library for free. If a pass is lost, please report it on our web form. If a pass that has been decommissioned is returned to the library after you have already received a replacement, please mail it to:

Laurel Brode
Department of Parks & Recreation
4940 Lang Ave, Dock H, Floor 14
McClellan, CA 95652

Should we add passes to our ILS? Can we use them as giveaways?

Passes should be added to your ILS and records must include the state parks barcode on the front of the pass. The MARC record’s OCLC accession number is 1301933782. The passes are not to be used as prizes or giveaways, and must circulate to patrons. Get a text version of the MARC record.

May our library add a barcode/logo/etc to the passes?

Yes, please do! Passes should be entered into your ILS, as we will be requesting circulation data. The MARC record’s OCLC accession number is 1301933782. The barcode on the front of the pass is what State Parks will scan to verify that the pass is valid; the blank area on the back of the pass is meant for libraries to use as needed. Please add the State Parks barcode from the front to the record for reporting lost passes.

Promotion

How can we promote the program?

Information about marketing and partnerships are available on our Toolkit. We suggest that you promote the passes through partnerships, your usual marketing channels, and by creating complementary events and programs around the themes of health, natural resource stewardship, and historical and cultural connections. See our Sample Programs page to learn more.

Partnering

How do we contact the state parks to collaborate?

The District Interpretive Coordinator would be the best point of contact to initiate collaborative efforts. A list of District Interpretive Coordinators is available; email parkspass@library.ca.gov to access it. See the list of parks districts. You can find your closest park using this map of eligible parks and all library branches in California.

What are some ways to collaborate?

There are many possibilities! Check out this webinar for some ideas, or visit our sample programs page  and Toolkit. Here are a few:

  • Stay aware of upcoming programs at your nearby park(s). Each park has an individual website which often lists events.
  • View the virtual parks programs on the PORTS website.
  • Cross-promote each other’s facilities and programs.
  • Use the program for a summer library program tie-in.
  • Work with a nearby state park to create a StoryWalk in the park.
  • Work with a nearby state park to create and post a Little Free Library at the park visitor center or campground.
  • Provide regular or occasional storytimes or other library programs at the park.
  • Ask a park interpreter to provide a program at the library, and offer to a do a storytime or other library program at the park.

Where do we find information on individual parks?

You can find your closest park using this map of eligible parks and all library branches in California.

What are some other collaboration ideas?

Partnering with community organizations or groups that are already meeting the goals or health, natural resource stewardship, cultural and historical connections, or outdoor access equity is a great way to promote the passes. For instance, Latino Outdoors, Outdoor Afro, GirlVentures, Senderos Naturales, and Community Nature Connection are all doing outdoor access equity work. Municipal parks may have complementary programming, and may be interested in providing circulating passes. Local tribes can also be good partners. See our list of sample programs or the list of possible partners on our grant page.

Grant

How do I apply?

Visit our grant page for more information. Applications are due January 30, 2023 at noon on our grant submission portal in WizeHive. Please contact us for support.

What if my grant fits into more than one category?

Please select the category that most closely aligns with your major grant activities; the categories are designed to provide guidance on types of projects and are not weighted in the scoring of your application. Make sure to describe all grant activities in your application.

What types of transportation are eligible?

Transportation cannot be in the form of vouchers, gas cards, or bus passes, and must instead be transportation provided for library programming in the park. For instance, a shuttle bus or partnership with your local transit authority.

What insurance requirements do I need if I am providing transportation?

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.

Can current Parks Pass grantees apply?

Yes! If your program is accepted, you will be folded into the new reporting requirements.

If your library’s literacy program would like to apply, those activities would be a new activity, and so reporting requirements would be combined.

If I am in a jurisdiction with over 14 outlets and we want to apply for multiple grants, do we have to, or can we apply for one with multiple grant activities?

You can apply for one or multiple grants per jurisdiction, whichever makes the most sense for your project, tracking outcomes, and reporting.

  • 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  

Do the programs have to directly encourage people to use the passes or visit state parks?

The programs must meet the goals of the Parks Pass program, which includes generating positive measurable impacts in the areas of health, natural resource stewardship, and historical and cultural connections, and there must be a connection to state parks, even if you do not host programming in a park — for instance, if you host native plant gardening programs at your library, promoting flora and fauna that grow at a local state park and mentioning state parks and parks passes in your marketing materials.

The passes should be promoted at the programs, but you do not need to use the passes during your program. For instance, if you create a Storywalk at your local state park and do a librarian-led hike, you can encourage people to check out the passes but they do not need to use passes to participate by including parks pass information on promotional material or including information about local state parks on the storywalk. Similarly, if your local state park does not accept the passes but you want to do a partnership with them, that is encouraged.

See the categories on the grant page for more guidance on creating programs.

What does equity lens mean?

We are looking for applications include outreach activities that focus on underserved communities that face barriers to park access. You can identify those communities and barriers by using internal data (including anecdotal and lived experience), or by using data from sources such as:

There are also resources on the Parks Pass toolkit that can help you understand park access barriers. We also encourage including community assets in how you think about your programming.

How can I contact State Parks?

Email parkspass@library.ca.gov to get a list of the District Interpretive Coordinators, who can set you up with your local interpreters in state parks. Other programming resources include:

Can the funds be spent before we receive the funds from the State Library?

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.

No, Parks Pass grant funds are state funds, which do not count as a local match.

What California Library Literacy Services role can AmeriCorps members play in the Parks Pass grant?

AmeriCorps members cannot apply for the grant, as they are prohibited from fundraising. However, they can help conduct community outreach and engagement, plan and brainstorm, contact potential partners, and/or participate in or implement programming.

Which California Library Literacy Services audiences does this program serve?

The Parks Pass grant can serve all of them, including English-speaking adult learners, English language learners, and family literacy audiences. Family literacy audiences may include eligible but unenrolled family learners, if you wanted to include those participants in family literacy reporting. If you do not intend to report family literacy or other participants on your CLLS report, you may serve whoever you like!

Who should I contact for help and questions?

Please contact Cindy Zalog at parkspass@library.ca.gov.