Parks Pass Program
Introduction
Connects Californians to culture and history
Develops positive health outcomes
Encourages natural resource stewardship
Breaks down barriers to the benefits of the outdoors
California is home to 280 state park units, over 340 miles of coastline, 970 miles of lake and river frontage, 15,000 campsites, and 4,500 miles of trails, but barriers to access still exist. Research shows that spending time in the outdoors is associated with better mental and physical health, yet far too many kids in low-income communities and communities of color don’t have access to nature. In fact, 70% of low-income communities across the country live in “nature-deprived” areas. Communities of color are three times more likely than white communities to live in an area that is “nature deprived.” That’s where California’s 1, 180 library branches come in.
The Parks Pass program, a partnership between California State Parks and the California State Library as part of the Outdoor Access for All Initiative, supports all Californians in exploring the outdoors and gaining the benefits of our parks. This program includes the California State Library Parks Pass and grant opportunities. The goals of the program are to generate positive impacts in the areas of health, natural resource stewardship, and historical and cultural connections with an equity lens.
26,000 free vehicle-day use hangtags distributed since April 2022 to all California public library jurisdictions for free checkout by library card holders.
Over $1 million awarded for two rounds of grant funding to library jurisdictions across the state for parks-based programming and outreach.
Webinars, Community of Practice for grantees, toolkits, and presentations about parks-based programming for public library staff.
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 Pass program that provides free day-use passes for fourth graders and their families, a California State Library Parks Pass and grant funds to libraries, and the revamped Golden Bear Pass Program with the California Department of Social Services.
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.
Impact
A map of eligible State Parks and library branches.
Parks Passes have been circulating in libraries since April 2022. As of September 2023, passes have been circulated over 118,000 times. With the additional passes funded by the 22/23 State Budget, holds times were significantly reduced.
What Librarians are Reporting
“Being a small community library, programs such as these are vital to our community’s growth. Lower income families tend to be the core of our patrons and these programs mean a great deal to the families we serve.”
“It is such a wonderful partnership between agencies and helps ease the financial burden many are feeling with rising gas prices/inflation. Being able to provide access to the natural beauty of this State aligns with library goals of education, access and equity.”
“Our first Park Pass patron was a young man in his 20s. He came in to get a new library card (he hadn’t been to the library in years). At the end of the transaction, he said he saw a post on TikTok about Park Passes and was that a real thing. He was thrilled when we told him, Yes!!” He left the library with a new library card and a Park Pass and he was very happy!”
“One of the first people who borrowed the pass loved it. She got to go with her daughter to the state park (who couldn’t otherwise afford it) and is so happy the Library has items like this.”
“Families excited about checking out local state beaches/parks since they have this incentive to go exploring. One patron and her family were able to visit three parks during her loan period. She stated she would never even have thought to visit them without the free pass. We had a patron who she said she was able to celebrate her anniversary with her husband at Crystal Cove and was so grateful to us for having this pass.”
“When customers learn about the California State Parks passes available through their library, their faces light up with excitement. We’ve observed an influx of existing and new library card users coming through our doors to take advantage of this beautiful offering.”
Parks Pass Users Say
“The pass makes having a real family vacation more possible when so many of us are really feeling the impact of inflation, especially at the pump and grocery store. Our family is excited to explore California’s natural beauty!”
“The entry cost to state parks usually puts me off. Having the pass made it accessible. Also brought me into the library where I signed up for a reading program and checked out other items that I never would’ve thought they’d have (a game and an electric drill!).”
“I’m so grateful for the California park pass! Our family is on a tight budget and this pass allows us to enjoy all the beautiful parks and beaches that California has to offer. It keeps us active, creates family bonding time, and offers educational opportunities for the kids.”
“As a retired couple the day-use fees are a consideration, so we were very happy to get to visit a park we normally would not have.”
User Survey results as of September 18, 2023 show that:
- 63% of Parks Pass users previously had not visited state parks due to cost of day-use fees
- 52% of users had visited California state parks 0–2 times per year prior to the introduction of the Parks Pass, and 81% of users planned on visiting state parks 3 or more times per year with the Parks Pass
- 81% of users agreed or strongly agreed that they were more likely to use other library resources and services after using the Parks Pass
- 56% of Parks Pass users were Black, Indigenous, or People of Color
Parks Pass Grant
The goal of the first round grant program was to generate positive measurable impacts in the areas of health, natural resource stewardship, and historical and cultural connections with an equity lens. There were 38 grant recipients, with awards up to $5000. Libraries completed a wide range of projects, such as:
- Circulating outdoor gear including specialized adventure kits to promoting outdoor activities such as stargazing, birdwatching, and camping
- Storywalks, including original picture books, mobile activities, and native plant gardens with signage
- Programming including bilingual bird walks, inclusive presentations, and trolley rides in parks
In the second round of funding, 23 grantee projects from public libraries with budgets up to $75,000 will complete their projects by March of 2024. Projects include field trips, literacy program collaborations, circulating outdoor gear, and storywalks.
A final round of targeted grants was awarded in August 2023. Projects included targeted marketing campaigns and specialized programing aimed at engaging underserved communities. Funding was also awarded to the Southern California Library Cooperative (SCLC) to provide hiking backpacks to libraries statewide.
Round 1 Grantees
- Anaheim Public Library — Bilingual StoryWalk
- Banning Library District — Discovery Packs for Parks
- Buena Park Library District — Nature Explorer Backpack Kits
- Calaveras County Library — Parks Pass Program
- Camarillo Public Library — Camarillo’s Great Outdoors
- Cerritos Public Library — Parks Pass Grant
- City Of Commerce Public Library — Park & Wildlife Explorer Program
- Daly City Public Library — Storywalks at Daly City Public Library
- El Dorado County Library — Libraries and Parks for Nature Literacy
- Huntington Beach Public Library — Explore the Outdoors in Huntington Beach
- Inglewood Public Library — Plan Your Outdoor Adventure with Inglewood Public Library
- Los Angeles Public Library — Expedition L.A.
- Los Gatos Library — Stories in the Redwoods
- Madera County Library — Explore to Learn: Augmented Reality Challenges
- Mono County Free Library — Mono Basin Outdoor Library Walks
- Murrieta Public Library — Murrieta Park Pass Activity Kits
- National City Public Library — Parks Pass 2022 Programs: Tijuana Estuary and Old Town State Historic Park
- Orange Public Library — Discover Your State Parks
- Orland Free Library — Parks Pass Grant Circulating Items
- Palm Springs Public Library — Library State Parks Pass & Discovery Backpack program
- Rancho Cucamonga Public Library — RCPL: Library of Things “Outdoor Collection”
- Redwood City Public Library — Grab and Go Kids Discovery Backpacks
- Riverside Public Library — Park Pass Program
- Salinas Public Library — Outdoor Adventure Packs
- San Benito County Free Library — Check Out State Parks Packs
- San Bruno Public Library — San Bruno Explores California State Parks
- San Jose Public Library — SJPL Outdoor Exploration Pack
- San Luis Obispo City-County Library — Park It
- San Mateo County Libraries — Explore our Parks Packs
- Santa Barbara Public Library — SBPL Adventure Packs and State Park Events
- Santa Clara City Library — Everyone Belongs: Taking Your Place in the Outdoors
- Santa Maria Public Library — Nature Explorer Backpacks
- Sutter County Library — Library Outside
- Tehama County Library — Ide Adobe State Park Hidden Heroes StoryWalk
- Tulare County Library — Let’s Go to Allensworth!: Tulare County Library invites the public to the Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park
- Willows Public Library — Parks Pass Grant Circulating Items
- Woodland Public Library — Family Adventure Packs
- Yorba Linda Public Library — Discover & Explore The Great Outdoors
Round 2 Grantees
- Amador County Library — What’s the Story at Your Local State Park?
- City of Commerce Public Library — Park & Wildlife Explorer Program
- City of Huntington Beach — Explore the Outdoors in Huntington Beach
- City of Salinas — Outdoor Adventure Pack: Expansion
- County of Madera Library — AR Adventures: Continuation
- County of San Luis Obispo Public Libraries — Park It
- Friends of the Calaveras County Library — Connecting with the Outdoors in Calaveras County
- GLENDALE LIBRARY, ARTS & CULTURE — Glendale Parks and Nature Literacy Program
- Lompoc Public Library System — Outdoor Adventures/Aventuras al Aire Libre
- Los Angeles Public Library — Expedition L.A.: Nature Literacy
- Los Angeles Public Library — Expedition L.A. (Round 2)
- Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library — Explore the Outdoors with Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library
- Murrieta Public Library — Murrieta Public Library’s Outdoor Learning Stations
- NATIONAL CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY — Parks Pass 2023: Discovering Parks Together
- Riverside Public Library — Riverside Public Library Explore the Outdoors Program
- San José Public LIbrary — Bringing Partners in Reading’s Adult Learners to the California State Parks
- San Mateo Public Library — State Parks Are For Everyone!
- Sonoma County Library — Vamos a Sugarloaf (Sugarloaf Ridge State Park — Senderos Naturales Field Trips)
- Sutter County Library — Environmental Literacy
- Tulare County Library Foundation — Tulare County Library Travels to California State Parks
- Watsonville Public Library — Learning Adventures
- Yolo County Library — All Together Outside
- Yorba Linda Public Library — Destination Well-Being: Library, Parks, and the Great Outdoors
Targeted Grant Recipients
- LA County Library — Urban State Parks of Los Angeles County
- Sacramento Public Library — Parks and Tranquility
- Ventura County Library — Parks Pass Marketing
Backpack Project
The California State Library and the Southern California Library Cooperative (SCLC) have partnered to provide hiking backpacks for libraries statewide. These backpacks are designed to make the outdoors more accessible and foster a deeper connection with natural resources. Contents include hiking poles, pocket microscopes, binoculars, compasses, field guides, and safety equipment.
For questions and support, please contact Wayne Walker, SCLC Deputy Director, at wwalker@socallibraries.org.
Resources for Libraries
For more information, contact parkspass@library.ca.gov.
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.