One of the projects on the Stockton Creek Preserve in Mariposa County
Credit: Sierra Sun Times
Mariposa:
Stockton Creek Preserve Outdoor Education: $119,750 to the Sierra Foothill Conservancy to create an amphitheater, signage and exhibits at Stockton Creek Preserve in Mariposa.
May 9, 2018 - SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California State Parks have announced the selection of 39 local park projects that will receive grants totaling $10 million from the California Outdoor Environmental Education Facilities Grant Program. This one-time competitive program, funded by the 2002 Resources Bond Act (Proposition 40), provides assistance to local agencies and community-based organizations for the development of outdoor environmental education facilities.
Parks and recreation matter in many ways to California’s approximately 40 million residents. Every day, millions walk, ride or run through parks, play with friends, and absorb the wonder of nature. These outdoor places support healthy, affordable, physical and social activities; improve the quality of life in communities; provide venues for cultural celebrations that can anchor communities; and are economic engines that fuel tourism, provide jobs and enhance the value of neighborhoods. California State Parks serves an important role in this system as the administrator of the grant program through its Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS).
The $2.6 billion (Proposition 40) measure provided funds for a wide variety of parks, open space, recreation and land, air and water conservation projects across the state. Local agencies, recreation districts and non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations were eligible to apply for this grant program. OGALS received 84 applications requesting a total of $24.3 million. Each application received careful review by a team of professional staff members. Applications were ranked based on criteria that included the need for outdoor environmental education and the educational opportunities the project would facilitate.
The funded projects (listed by the city where the projects are located) are:
American Canyon
Wetlands Edge Park Environmental Education: $250,000 to the city of American Canyon to construct a new outdoor shaded classroom with seating and a new nature trail with interpretive elements at Wetlands Edge Park.
Anaheim
Oak Canyon Nature Center Renovation: $500,000 to the city of Anaheim to construct an outdoor laboratory, expand and renovate an amphitheater and install new interpretive elements at the Oak Canyon Nature Center.
Angelus Oaks
Environmental Walk of Knowledge (EWOK) Bridge: $225,000 to the Mile High Pines Camp to construct a new accessible, elevated, freestanding platform system in the trees with interactive learning stations at Mile High Pines Camp (San Bernardino County).
Berkeley
Lawrence Hall of Science Outdoor Center: $500,000 to the Lawrence Hall of Science, UC Berkeley to construct an outdoor nature center with interpretive elements and a nature trail at the Lawrence Hall of Science in the city of Berkeley.
Calabasas
Headwaters Corner Interpretive Center: $146,875 to the city of Calabasas to construct and install interpretive elements and gathering areas at Headwaters Corner Interpretive Center.
California City
Desert Tortoise Research Natural Area Improvements: $29,000 to the Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee to construct new interpretive elements at an existing kiosk at the Desert Tortoise Research Natural Area in Kern County.
Dana Point
Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center Outdoor Classroom: $212,000 to the city of Dana Point to construct a new outdoor classroom with interpretive displays at Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center.
Eureka
Sequoia Park Zoo Redwood Canopy Walk: $500,000 to the city of Eureka to construct an elevated trail through a redwood canopy with platforms and interpretive elements, renovate an existing trail and add native habitat plantings at Sequoia Park and Zoo.
Fawnskin
Big Bear Discovery Center Outdoor Education Classroom: $70,000 to the Southern California Mountains Foundation to improve the observation deck with interpretive elements, renovate entryway pergolas, install a retractable shade structure and fire pit at Big Bear Discovery Center in Fawnskin.
Felton
Felton Library Nature Discovery Park: $395,000 to the County of Santa Cruz, Parks, Open Space and Cultural Services to construct a new outdoor nature discovery park including outdoor classroom, nature discovery zones and a new interpretive nature loop trail in the city of Felton.
Fremont
Stivers Lagoon Nature Area Outdoor Classroom: $199,000 to the city of Fremont to construct an outdoor classroom with seating and interpretive elements at Stivers Lagoon Nature Area.
Goleta
UCSB North Campus Open Space Interpretive Trailhead: $391,250 to UC Santa Barbara to construct a trailhead with interpretive elements, install benches and signage along an approximately 2.5-mile trail at UC Santa Barbara.
Hayward
Sulphur Creek Nature Center Renovation: $499,998 to the Hayward Area Regional Park District to construct a new outdoor classroom, renovate an amphitheater and seating area, add interpretive signage and an entry kiosk at the Sulphur Creek Nature Center in the city of Hayward.
La Jolla
Birch Aquarium at Scripps: $115,000 to UC San Diego to renovate the Tide Pool Pavilion aquariums, construct new shade structure with storage, and add interpretive elements to the Birch Aquarium at Scripps in the city of La Jolla.
Laguna Niguel
Aliso and Wood Canyons Wondrous Watershed Trail: $376,800 to the county of Orange to construct new outdoor interpretive elements including a life-sized metal replica of an extinct fossil along an existing trail and create native habitats at Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park in the county of Orange at Laguna Niguel.
Little River
Van Damme State Park Fern Canyon Trail: $18,579 to the Mendocino Area Parks Association to install interpretive elements along the Fern Canyon Trail in Van Damme State Park.
Lodi
Lodi Lake Park Nature Area Improvements: $249,525 to the city of Lodi to renovate an existing amphitheater and interpretive signage, install additional interpretive signage, native plantings and new pathways at Lodi Lake Park.
Los Angeles
Griffith Park Urban Environmental Center Terrace: $435,000 to the City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks to construct an outdoor nature lab and classroom with interpretive elements at Griffith Park.
Mariposa
Stockton Creek Preserve Outdoor Education: $119,750 to the Sierra Foothill Conservancy to create an amphitheater, signage and exhibits at Stockton Creek Preserve in Mariposa.
Mendocino
Mendocino Woodlands Campfire Circle Replacement: $292,000 to the Mendocino Woodlands Camp Association to renovate a group campfire area at Mendocino Woodlands State Park with new seating, erosion control and fire ring.
Modesto
Tuolumne River Regional Park River Pavilion: $500,000 to the city of Modesto to construct a shade pavilion, outdoor learning theater, river access trail, install interpretive signage and plant native trees at Tuolumne River Regional Park.
Moreno Valley
Box Springs Mountain Reserve Trails: $25,000 to the Riverside County Regional Park and Open Space District to construct trailhead kiosks and interpretive signs on existing trails at Box Springs Mountain Reserve in Moreno Valley.
Oak Glen
Oak Glen Preserve Floating Dock Renovations: $100,000 to The Wildlands Conservancy to renovate and expand a floating dock, renovate the pond with native plants, and construct interpretive signs and displays at the Oak Glen Preserve in the city of Oak Glen.
Palo Alto
Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Center: $162,000 to the city of Palo Alto to construct interpretive elements along approximately 2 miles of existing trail and boardwalk at Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Center.
Petaluma
Shollenberger Park Improvements: $213,500 to the city of Petaluma to construct an interpretive kiosk, viewing platform and an outdoor amphitheater at Shollenberger Park.
Placerville
Wakamatsu Farm Outdoor Classroom: $271,000 to the American River Conservancy to construct a new outdoor classroom with interpretive panels and a native plant garden surrounded by accessible pathways at Wakamatsu Farm in the city of Placerville.
Pleasanton
Shadow Cliffs Interpretive Pavilion: $434,713 to the East Bay Regional Park District to construct an accessible outdoor interpretive pavilion with exhibits at Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area in the city of Pleasanton.
Riverside
Hidden Valley Wildlife Area: $275,000 to the Riverside County Regional Park and Open Space District to renovate the outdoor amphitheater with accessible pathways, lighting, shade structures and native shade trees, and install new interpretive elements at Hidden Valley Wildlife Area in Riverside County.
Rolling Hills Estates
George F. Canyon Nature Preserve Improvements: $40,050 to the city of Rolling Hills Estates to construct and install interpretive signage, renovate a kiosk and add minor trail amenities at George F. Canyon Nature Preserve.
San Francisco
McLaren Park Trails: $250,000 to the city and county of San Francisco to rehabilitate existing trails including realignment and drainage, educational habitat plantings, and wayfinding and interpretive signage at McLaren Park.
Santa Barbara
Cachuma Fireside Amphitheater Renovation: $375,000 to the county of Santa Barbara to renovate the Cachuma Lake Recreation Area by reconstructing the Fireside Amphitheater with a new stage, backdrop, seating area and equipment booth with ADA upgrades, as well as landscaping and minor amenities.
Santa Cruz
Pogonip Park Creek Nature Loop Trail: $96,000 to the city of Santa Cruz to install interpretive elements along a nature trail, create a gathering place with new interpretive kiosk and construct trail and bridge improvements at Pogonip Park.
Santa Ysabel
Santa Ysabel Nature Center Improvements: $275,000 to the county of San Diego Parks and Recreation to construct an amphitheater with native plantings and trail with interpretive signs at Santa Ysabel Nature Center in Santa Ysabel.
Shingletown
Volcano Adventure Camp Improvements: $30,800 to the Lassen Park Foundation to construct tent cabins and install interpretive signage, fire rings with seating and picnic tables at Volcano Adventure Campground in Lassen Volcanic National Park.
South El Monte
Whittier Narrows Outdoor Learning Classroom: $488,888 to the county of Los Angeles to construct an outdoor classroom and trail segments at Whittier Narrows Nature Center in the city of South El Monte.
Tehachapi
Tejon Conservancy Pescado Camp: $250,000 to the Tejon Ranch Conservancy to construct an amphitheater, group campground, access drive/parking, nature trail and install native plantings and interpretive elements at Tejon Conservancy Pescado Camp in the city of Tehachapi.
Torrance
Madrona Marsh Preserve Improvements: $80,000 to the city of Torrance to construct an interpretive turtle breeding exhibit and outdoor classroom at Madrona Marsh Preserve.
Trabuco Canyon
O'Neill Regional Park Amphitheater Replacement: $108,272 to the county of Orange to expand and renovate the amphitheater, improve access and plant large trees and native habitat landscaping at O'Neill Regional Park in Trabuco Canyon.
Woodland
Woodland Regional Park Outdoor Education Trail: $500,000 to the city of Woodland to construct an accessible nature trail with interpretive elements, trailhead kiosk and parking at Woodland Regional Park.
For more information about the Outdoor Environmental Education Facilities Program and other grant programs administered by the Office of Grants and Local Services, visit http://www.parks.ca.gov/grants. You can also visit the OGALS on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/caparkgrants.
Source: CA. State Parks
