What you need to know: Fresh off announcing its biggest expansion in decades, California State Parks is advancing $42.6 million in new funding for local parks to further enhance Outdoors for All. The 18 proposed projects for Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grants will help to improve outdoor recreation for communities across California with new cultural centers, new parks and park enhancements.

April 30, 2026 - SACRAMENTO — Exactly one week after unveiling its biggest expansion in decades, California State Parks on Wednesday announced recommendations to the National Park Service (NPS) for $42.6 million in Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grants for 18 local park projects that will protect more than 2,800 acres meant for public outdoor recreation, further enhancing Outdoors for All.

Through this competitive grant program, outdoor access will expand in local communities throughout California, with a priority of expanding access in underserved communities. The selected projects span across cities, counties, park districts and tribes to provide them with the ability to acquire or develop land for public outdoor recreation purposes such as playgrounds, splashpads, multi-use trails, sports fields/courts, picnic areas, and skate and dog parks.

“The recommended projects do more than just build parks and trails – they strengthen community connections and enhance quality of life by creating spaces like a new cultural center or expanding more outdoor access to all Californians,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “As we embark on the biggest expansion of State Parks in decades, these grants can also help bridge the nature gap by supporting local parks and economies as well as mental and physical health through new connections between people and the outdoors.”

LWCF grants provide funding for the acquisition or development of land to create new outdoor recreation opportunities for the health and wellness of Californians. This program is in line with the Outdoor Access for All initiative championed by Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and the California Natural Resources Agency’s Outdoors for All initiative. California is expanding parks and outdoor spaces in communities that need them the most in partnership with local governments, community organizations and tribes, supporting programs to connect with people who lack access, fostering a sense of belonging for all Californians outdoors, and much more.

The recommended projects (listed bythe countyand citywhere projects are located) are:

Butte County

• Feather Falls: $2 million for a new 15.7-acre park to Mooretown Rancheria, Mooretown Multi-Purpose Park Playground & Cultural Center.

Contra Costa County

• Concord: $1 million for 2,629-acre park renovations to East Bay Recreation and Park District, Thurgood Marshal Regional Park.

El Dorado County

• Pollock Pines: $1.4 million for 14-acre park renovations to County of El Dorado, Forebay Park Improvement Project.

Fresno County

• Huron: $3 million for a new 2.74-acre park to City of Huron, La Placita Park.
• Mendota: $2 million for a new 29.67-acre park to City of Mendota, Airport Park.

Humboldt County

• Fortuna: $144,000 for 6.25-acres park expansion acquisition to City of Fortuna, Vancil Community Forest Acquisition.

Kings County

• Lemoore: $2 million for a new 80-acre park to Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Yokut Tribe, Tachi Sports Complex.

Lake County

• Cobb: $1.4 million for a 12.88-acre park development to County of Lake, Cobb Community Park Improvements.

Los Angeles County

• Hawthorne: $1 million for a new 2.1- acre park to City of Hawthorne, Water Tower Park Development.
• Lynwood: $331,000 for a new 0.16-acre park to City of Lynwood, Space Renovation.
• Glendale: $6 million for a new 2.39-acre park to City of Glendale, 1000 South Central Avenue Park Project.
• Monterey Park: $6 million for 14.09-acre park renovation to City of Monterey Park, Barnes Park Development and Pool Rehabilitation.

Merced County

• Livingston: $1.9 million for a new 1-acre park to City of Livingston, Rec Plex Park.

Monterey County

• Greenfield: $6 million for a new 9.01-acre park to City of Greenfield, Greenfield Park and Recreation Project.

Nevada County

• Nevada City: $124,000 for a new 0.11-acre park to City of Nevada City, North Pine Pocket Park.

Riverside County

• Riverside: $1 million for a new 0.63-acre park to Jurupa Area Recreation & Park District, 37th Street Park Project (Mariposa Park).
• Winchester: $2.7 million for 5.83-acres park expansion and renovation to Valley-Wide Recreation & Park District, Winchester Trails Park Expansion.

Yolo County

• West Sacramento: $4.5 million for 22.21-acres park expansion acquisition for City of West Sacramento, Arlington New Park Acquisition.

State Parks evaluated 128 proposed projects for more than $332.7 million in LWCF funding requests for the $42.6 million available in this application cycle. The proposed projects for this cycle were more than double the number of applications and the funding requests than in previous years, despite uncertainty surrounding federally funded grant programs. State Parks serves an important role as the administrator of the LWCF Program through its Office of Grants and Local Services (OGALS). OGALS works with NPS, which administers this grant program at the federal level. Following NPS’ review and approval, grant recipients can expect to participate in a mandatory OGALS grant administration workshop, receive contracts and begin work to complete their projects.

OGALS develops grant programs to provide funding for local, state and nonprofit organization projects. Since 1965, OGALS has administered approximately $6 billion in grant funding throughout California, creating or improving nearly 8,000 local and state parks. For more information, please visit parks.ca.gov/grants.

Source: CA. State Parks