October 6, 2019 - The California Department of Parks and Recreation (State Parks) is seeking comment on draft guidelines for applying for $46.2 million in funding from two new statewide grant programs. State Parks will hold nine public meetings throughout the state in October and November to receive public feedback for the Regional Park Program and the Rural Recreation and Tourism Program created by Proposition 68 of 2018.   

The Regional Park Program will create, expand and improve regional parks and facilities across California. The Rural Recreation and Tourism Program will create new recreation opportunities in support of economic and health-related goals in rural communities across California. Projects for the Rural Recreation and Tourism Program must be located in non-urbanized counties with populations of less than 500,000 people and low population densities per square mile. 

Parks are unique places where children play, people exercise, families and friends bond, seniors socialize, cultures share and celebrate their differences, and everyone connects with nature. These competitive grant programs were made possible through the passage of Proposition 68: California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection, and Outdoor Access for All Act of 2018, the state’s largest investment in grant-funding history targeted for underserved communities in California. The bond measure also authorized funds for aging infrastructure, amenities and improvements to parks that will help attract new and diverse visitors

The Draft Application Guides are available on these webpages:

• Rural Recreation and Tourism Program www.parks.ca.gov/rrt
• Regional Park Program www.parks.ca.gov/rpp

The public will have the opportunity to provide in-person formal comments about the draft application guides at the following locations:

Public Hearing Schedule for Rural Recreation and Tourism Program

Weed (Siskiyou County)

Tuesday, October 8 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Weed Community Center (Recreation Room) – 161 E. Lincoln Avenue (96094)

Sonora (Tuolumne County)

Tuesday, October 15 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

City Council Chambers (2nd Floor) – 94 North Washington Street (95370)

Paso Robles (San Luis Obispo County)

Wednesday, October 16 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Centennial Park (Live Oak Room) – 600 Nickerson Drive (93446)

El Centro (Imperial County)

Wednesday, October 23 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Old Post Office - 230 S. 5th Street (92243)

Public Hearing Schedule for Regional Park Program

Santa Barbara

Tuesday, November 5 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Santa Barbara Veterans Memorial Building – 112 W Cabrillo Blvd (93101)

Chino (San Bernardino County)

Wednesday, November 6 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Prado Regional Park Multi-Purpose Meeting Room – 16700 Euclid Ave (91708)

Sacramento

Friday, November 8 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sacramento County Department of Regional Parks Community Room – 10361 Rockingham Drive, Suite 100 (95827)

San Jose (Santa Clara County)

Wednesday, November 13 – 1 to 5 p.m.

Bascom Branch Library – 1000 S. Bascom Ave (95128)

Fresno

Thursday, November 14 – 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Fresno County Health and Wellness Center in Training Room D – 1925 E. Dakota Ave (93726)

The public may also email or mail comments on the draft Application Guides. Public comments on the draft Application Guides are due by 5 p.m. November 29.  

To send comments by email or to RSVP to a public hearing, please send an email to:

• Rural Recreation and Tourism Program Supervisor: Richard.Rendon@parks.ca.gov
• Regional Park Program Supervisor: Natalie.Bee@parks.ca.gov

Comments may be mailed to the Program Supervisor above:

Calif. Dept. of Parks and Recreation

Office of Grants and Local Services

P.O. Box 942896

Sacramento, CA 94296-0001

Following the public comment participation opportunities, State Parks’ Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS) will finalize the Application Guides and announce an application workshop schedule. Application workshops will be offered statewide in 2020. 

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Office of Grants and Local Services provides local assistance grant funding. Since 1965, more than 7,400 parks throughout California have been created or improved through grant programs administered by the Office of Grants and Local Services. For more information on the Prop. 68 Statewide Park Program and other grant programs, visit www.parks.ca.gov/grants. 
Source: CA. State Parks