December 10, 2021

Photo of the Week

Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area

A spectacular sunrise painting the sky at Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area.

Photo from Diana Fong, Ocotillo Wells District

WHAT'S NEW

State Parks Awards $548.3 Million in Grants to Create Local New Parks Across California as Part of Newsom Administration’s ‘Outdoors for All’ Initiative

Story and photos from: Jorge Moreno, Communications and Marketing Division

Left to right: Councilmember Vivian Moreno (District 8), Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, State Parks Director Armando Quintero and Natural Resources Undersecretary Angela Barranco at the future site of Beyer Park in San Diego County.  

California State Parks along with the California Natural Resources Agency and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria held a press conference on Wednesday, December 8, at the future site of Beyer Park in San Ysidro to announce the $548.3 million in grant funding to deliver new parks to more than 100 communities throughout the state. These grants advance Newsom Administration’s “Outdoors for All” initiative to enable all Californians, regardless of zip code or income, to access parks and open space. The U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland was also at the press conference to celebrate this historic investment.  

Awarded through State Parks’ Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program, the grants represent the single-largest investment in state history in expanding access to parks in underserved communities, with new or enhanced parks funded in every region of California.

“Los parques son para todos and parks really are for everyone,” State Parks Director Armando Quintero said at the press conference. “The investments of this year—$548.3 million in a number of communities throughout California—is the largest single-year investment in these sorts of programs, but there are communities throughout California that over the last 21 years have been the recipients of almost $3 billion in community investments like this.” He added that because of these types of grants, California has far more than 280 state parks, helping to improve access to parks and open space and contributing to a better quality of life for many Californians.           

Secretary Wade Crowfoot also announced a new program and opportunity for all Californians with a partnership with the Los Angeles Rams football team. Crowfoot unveiled a new sports, team-branded vehicle license plate that seeks to build equitable access to California’s nature, culture and history. The first license plate in the series, rolling out today (Friday, December 10) in partnership with the LA Rams, will allow fans to show their team spirit while supporting access to parks and outdoor space.

Prior to the press conference, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Haaland, Director Quintero, Secretary Crowfoot, San Diego Mayor Gloria and others toured the Beyer Park site, which is currently empty land. This project received $8.5 million and will feature a children’s play area, a picnic area that includes amphitheater seating, and sports courts, and help to restore habitat.

In addition to the press conference, a roundtable discussion was held earlier in the day with various local community groups to talk about the importance of open space and what it means to have these spaces in their communities. A Zoom call was also held with the grant recipients with a special video message from Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom.  

The complete list and map showing locations of the 112 projects receiving grant awards can be found at www.parks.ca.gov/spp. You can read the full press release here.

Top: U.S. Secretary of the Interior Haaland speaking at the press conference. Bottom left: Director Quintero talked about the importance of the grants awarded throughout the state. Middle: Secretary Crowfoot spoke about the new partnership with the LA Rams. Right: Director Quintero is interviewed by Univision, Telemundo and Televisa after the press conference. 

Top: Group photo of the roundtable participants at the San Ysidro High School in San Diego. Bottom left: Participants discuss the importance of the outdoors and the grants that help build parks for local communities. Middle: Janessa Goldbeck from the Veterans Voice Foundation spoke to the group about what the outdoors means to veterans. Right: Jose Gonzalez from Latino Outdoors also spoke to the group about the importance of having more open spaces and being more inclusive to communities that lack resources to the outdoors. 

FIELD REPORT

Keeping Us Connected to Our Past: Restoration Work at Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park

Story from: Ileana Maestas, Capital District

Front of Leland Stanford Mansion. Photo from Tim White, Capital District. 

As with most historic buildings, the Leland Stanford Mansion in Sacramento must be maintained continuously to retain its historic character. Over the past two years, in between other projects, Restoration Specialist Tim White hand-carved 32 pieces for the octagon bands that surround the newel posts on the exterior stairs.

The octagon bands, like the finials and rest of the posts, were designed to match the details of a photo from 1872. The pieces were carved from reclaimed redwood from the same batch as the posts and finials.

Restoration work is one type of craft that if done right, will never get noticed by most. Its purpose is to keep us connected to our past by seamlessly preserving physical reminders of what came before us.

The Leland Stanford Mansion is a building that will always need the type of care and attention provided by the Capital District Restoration Team.  

Left: An image of the newel post at Leland Stanford Mansion, 1872. Photo from: California State Parks archives. Right: The newel after restoration recently completed. Photo from Tim White, Capital District. 

Left: Newel bands assembled, painted and installed. Top right: Newel bands in the process of being carved. Bottom right: Newel bands in the process of being assembled. Photos from Tim White, Capital District. 

Fire Suppression System Tested and Upgraded at Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park

Story and photos from: Jack Frost, Northern Buttes District

Water spraying alongside the temple, creating a water curtain.

Continuing efforts to preserve and protect California’s wonderful cultural heritage and artifacts in the state parks, the Northern Buttes District Maintenance staff conducted a recent system check and upgrade to the fire suppression system at the Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park.

The suppression system protects the Cloud Forest Temple, which is the oldest continuously used Chinese Taoist Temple in America, having been in existence here since 1852. The temple was gifted to California State Parks in 1956, and in response to the local forest fire dangers, a fire suppression system was installed several years ago around the exterior of the structure.

Recently, Weaverville was threatened by the devastating Monument Fire. When the town and the state park were put on an evacuation notice, the contents of the temple were evacuated to Sacramento. Fortunately, the fire did not reach Weaverville, but many thousands of acres of forest and private homes surrounding the community were lost.

After the evacuation was lifted, district staff tested and then upgraded the fire suppression system to make sure it would be ready in case the structure was again threatened by fire. A local contractor Wilgus Fire Control Inc. specializing in fire suppression systems assisted park staff with the upgrade of the delivery nozzles and successfully tested the system under full water pressure.

The maintenance staff are pleased to report that if the system is ever needed in the future, it will be fully capable of protecting the Cloud Forest Temple.

Top left: Rear of temple before water test. Top right: Rear of temple during water test creating a water curtain. Bottom right: Wilgus Fire Control Inc. employee replacing control valve diaphragm. Bottom left: New spray nozzle. 

Annual Christmas Holiday Tours Running All Month at Adamson House at Malibu Lagoon State Beach

Story and photos from: Michael Bird, Angeles District

Vintage Christmas cards on display for the holiday tours at the Adamson House.

The Adamson House at Malibu Lagoon State Beach is known for many things: It is known as the “first beach house in Malibu'' and is often referred to by some locals as the “Taj Mahal of tile.” However, every December the Malibu Adamson House Foundation reminds us of another exciting aspect of life at the beachfront estate, with its annual Christmas Holiday Winter Fundraiser Tours. Running throughout the month, the special tours immerse patrons into the charming and whimsical atmosphere of an Adamson Christmas.

Special decorations include vintage Adamson Christmas cards, family china dining sets and a small pink Christmas tree in the girls’ room. Not only can guests enjoy a beautifully decorated and festive historic home complete with presents and a lighted tree, but the tour includes music, snacks, hot beverages and a small gift as well.

With the beautiful scenery of the Malibu Pier and Surfrider Beach as a backdrop, it's not hard to understand why the annual Malibu Adamson House Foundations winter fundraiser has already brought numerous visitors from across the state and the country.

Tours run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesdays through Sundays, with group tour options available on Tuesdays. Tickets are $25 per adult and $10 per child, ages 6-17. If you have questions about the special holiday tours or to make a reservation, call (310) 456-9378.

View of the Adamson House decorated for the holidays. Top left: The main hallway of the Adamson House. Right: The dining room table set for Christmas dinner. Bottom left: The girls' room of the house decorated for the holiday tours.

Mount Diablo State Park Lights Diablo Beacon on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and Announces New Exhibit

Story and photos from: Sharon Peterson, Diablo Range District

The Diablo Beacon lit on Tuesday, December 7, to honor those who lost their lives on Pearl Harbor Day and honors survivors. 

This year marks the 80^th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, and in addition to the annual lighting of the Diablo Beacon, Mount Diablo State Park announced a new exhibit at the Summit Visitor Center featuring a piece of the USS Arizona, one of the battleships attacked that day.

On top of the visitor center at the summit of Mount Diablo is a beacon originally set on a metal tower. Its bright light helped pilots flying at night find their way in the days before they had radar or GPS to aid them. The beacon’s time guiding air traffic came to an end shortly after it was moved to the building. On Dec. 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked, and the light on Mount Diablo was turned off so enemy forces could not use it to navigate to targets on our shores. Even after the end of the war, the beacon remained dark because new technology made it obsolete.

In 1964 on the anniversary of Pearl Harbor, the Diablo Beacon was lit in honor of those who perished. That tradition has continued to this day. Each year on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day the Diablo Beacon is turned on at sunset and shines through the night. A lighting ceremony pays tribute to those who lost their lives and honors Pearl Harbor survivors. A highlight of the event has been hearing directly from some of these veterans.

At part of its tribute, Mount Diablo State Park also announced a new display, which tells the story of the park’s connection to this point in history throughout the year. The exhibit was made possible by funding from Save Mount Diablo.

The 2021 lighting ceremony was cosponsored by Save Mount Diablo; California State Parks; California State University, East Bay Concord Campus; and the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors, Chapter 5.

Mount Diablo State Park announced new exhibit, which tells the story of the park’s connection to this point in history.

NOW HIRING

To view current job openings within California State Parks, please visit our jobs webpage at www.LiveTheParksLife.com.

State Parks Job Spotlights and Open Exams

California State Parks has many exciting and rewarding job and exam opportunities for you to explore!

JOB SPOTLIGHTS

Park Maintenance Chief I: Apply-by dates vary: Ready for the next level in your career? Make the move and apply today! Take the lead of direct maintenance functions. There are currently three Park Maintenance Chief I opportunities available. Counties include Marin and Los Angeles. Click here for more information.

Accountant Trainee: Get paid to learn accounting functions in the state’s automated accounting system known as FI$Cal! Help process payments for Coachella Valley Mountain Conservancy, San Joaquin River Conservancy and Baldwin Hills Conservancy. This opportunity is available at headquarters in Sacramento. Click here for more information.

State Park Interpreter II: Help tell our stories. Share the cultural, historical or natural significance of our precious resources through our award-winning Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students (PORTS) program! There are currently three State Park Interpreter II positions available. Counties include Sacramento and San Diego. Click here for more information.

OPEN EXAMS

Aquatic Pest Control Assistant Program Manager: Supervise the specialist teams who keep invasive species at bay in the Sacramento Delta! You need four years of experience performing pest control duties, with one year assisting in supervision and training, and a Qualified Applicator Certificate F to take the exam. Click here for more information.

Last call! Apply now!

Assistant State Archeologist Exam: Final filing date extended: Dec. 10, 2021: As an Assistant State Archeologist, you will prepare cultural resource inventory documents and manage archaeology projects. If you’ve studied archaeology or anthropology, apply to take this exam! Click here for more information.

Associate State Archeologist Exam: Final filing date extended: Dec. 10, 2021: As an Associate State Archeologist for California State Parks, you will help design cultural resource management programs, conduct and direct field studies, assist archaeological excavations and more! Click here for more information.

Interested in learning more about job opportunities and exams? Join the Workforce Planning and Recruitment Office mailing list here! Questions? Email us at recruiting@parks.ca.gov.

LIVE THE PARKS LIFE IN STYLE

Style time! Here are this week's tips to help spread the word about our departmentwide style guidelines:

• single space after a period: Always. 
• aide: Use “aide” and not “aid” when referring to park aides, forestry aides, maintenance aides, etc.
• poinsettia: Note the "ia" in the spelling of this decorative holiday plant's name. 

Keeping a consistent writing style ensures the Weekly Digest looks and sounds its best. Each week, the Communications and Marketing Division reviews submitted articles for proper grammar and punctuation and style consistency––from capitalization and hyphenation to proper acronyms and active/passive voice­­ usage. In general, we follow the Associated Press style and Merriam-Webster, but at times we use our own department-specific style.

We always welcome your feedback on how to “Live the Parks Life” in (writing) style. Connect with us via email at weeklydigest@parks.ca.gov. 

POSTCARDS

Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area

During the low tide of the king tide Saturday, December, 4, a beginner surfer looks at the small waves.

Photo from Brian Baer, Communications and Marketing Division

Near Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area

State Park Interpreter Callista Turner was definitely on Santa's nice list this year. While walking over to Gorman Elementary School to drop off flyers for kids' activities at Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area, Callista ran into Santa and took a quick photo. Kids' crafts will be held December 18-19 at the north entrance visitor center on Gold Hill Road at the park unit.

Photo from Callista Turner, Great Basin District 

Benicia Capitol State Historic Park

Getting the park ready for the holiday season. Top left: The front door of the Fischer-Hanlon House located next door to the Capitol building. Top middle: The Christmas tree inside the Fischer-Hanlon House parlor decorated with handmade crocheted snowflakes. Because it is a Victorian-era home, we try to keep the decorations true to the period. Top right: The Christmas tree inside the first floor senate room of the Capitol building. This tree is decorated with hand-blown glass ornaments and icicles. Bottom: Each year we are assisted by the Benicia Fire Department to place the light at the top of the Capitol building. Firefighter Ethan Krause is on the extended ladder, finishing the lights around the pediment.  

Photos from Julio Ortiz, Bay Area District

Trione-Annadel State Park

Bay Area District partnered with CAL FIRE to burn piles in Trione-Annadel State Park this week. The work is part of a fire prevention grant-funded access road clearance and fuel reduction project in an area of the park burned in the 2017 Nuns Fire.

Photo from Cyndy Shafer, Bay Area District

Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area

Forestry Aide Timothy Hart (left), Skilled Laborer Clint Stallings (middle) and Forestry Aide Emanual “Manny” Sandoval (right) perform tread maintenance to Doe’s Run Trail in the Black Bear resource management area. Resource management areas, or RMAs, are trails-only riding areas in Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA). Maintenance like this makes for a more enjoyable experience for the rider, helps prevents off-trail riding and reduces erosion and runoff. Their dedication and a hard work blends conservation with providing off-highway vehicle enthusiast fun and challenging trails system at Carnegie SVRA. Not pictured is Park Maintenance Worker I Brian Bynum, who is also a dedicated member of the Carnegie Trails Crew.

Photo from Keith Griggs, Diablo Range District

 Año Nuevo State Park

Docent Fay Levinson (left) receiving her Poppy Award from Interpreter Susan Blake. During her 36 years and over 6,500 hours of volunteer service, Fay has shown unwavering dedication and made countless contributions to Año Nuevo State Park. She has been an integral and invaluable docent, serving in a wide variety of positions in school group programs, Equal Access programs, guided walks, the Park Store, outreach programs and more. Her kindness, passion and helpfulness have enriched the lives of thousands of visitors and staff. Fay is an outstanding ambassador for California State parks, demonstrating the true spirit of volunteerism. California State Parks extends its heartfelt gratitude to Fay.

Photo from Emma Levy, Santa Cruz District

Crystal Cove State Park

Catching the sunset in beautiful Orange County.

Photo from Ryan Gates, Orange Coast District

Lake Perris State Recreation Area

It was a chilly 40 degrees as the sun rose over Lake Perris on Monday, December 6.

Photo from Joshua Bakke, Inland Empire District

California State Capitol

The festive west steps of the California State Capitol with the California State Seal.

Photo from Megan Stanley, Capital District

California State Capitol

A view that hasn't been seen in a while. This is the beautiful interior dome of the California State Capitol. There has been a lot of movement out of the building with the Annex construction soon to occur. 

Photo from Megan Stanley, Capital District

Sonoma State Historic Park

The Toscano Kitchen atop a red carpet of freshly fallen leaves.

Photo from Derek Shelly, Bay Area District

William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park 

The homestead is newly decorated for the winter holidays, thanks to staff and volunteers. 

Photo from Heather Lee, Northern Buttes District

William B. Ide Adobe State Historic Park 

The interior of the homestead is also festively decorated, thanks to staff and volunteers. 

Photo from Heather Lee, Northern Buttes District

Lake Perris State Recreation Area

A gorgeous sunset at Lake Perris captured last week.

Photo from Matt Anderson, Southern Service Center 

Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park

Sunset over the Malakoff hydraulic diggings on Wednesday, December 1.

Photo from Caleb Longest, Sierra District

Carlsbad State Beach

During an unusually foggy morning, I was watching the pelicans when the sun broke through the clouds. 

Photo from April Nurse, San Diego Coast District 

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

Bull elk enjoying Gold Bluff Beach on a foggy morning near Fern Canyon. 

Photo from Mark Morrissette, North Coast Redwoods District

Leo Carrillo State Park

It's that time of the year again when families come together, celebrate, enjoy one another's company and most importantly ... EAT! Naturally we've all got food on the brain, so while this might look like a pile of delicious spaghetti, it is quite the opposite. Spotted here in the tide pools of Leo Carrillo is a great big pile of sea hare eggs. Sea hares can lay up to 80 million eggs at a time, which hatch in about 10-12 days. If you look close enough, you'll see two wet, squishy sea hares on either side of the "spaghetti"!

Photo from Ilsa Below, Angeles District

MacKerricher State Park

This photo was taken during an extremely beautiful low tide on Friday, December 3. The tidal pools are always a main attraction! There are multiple species of anemone along our coastline and are warmly welcomed by incoming campers and adventure seekers at this park. This past week we had some massive negative tides allowing us to go deep into the tide-pooling area and see some incredible creatures subsisting and hugging the coast of this beautiful park. This is the giant green sea anemone, a common species at this park and one of those beautiful floral-mimicking invertebrates that never ceases to amaze onlookers. The one pictured above was about 50% out of the water, showing off its tentacles near its oral disk. These tentacles are not harmful to humans, but rather create a tacky and sticky sensation lethal to its prey. The prey of a sea anemone can be quite surprising when seeing this cute and seemingly dancing underwater animal. It will consume animals such as crabs, sea urchins and fish if they stumble into its tentacles. 

Photo from Dustin Medler, Sonoma-Mendocino Coast District

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

A chaparral yucca (Hesperoyucca whipplei).

Photo from Michele Hernandez, Colorado Desert District

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park

Pine tree seedling growing in the rocks.

Photo from Michele Hernandez, Colorado Desert District

Russian Gulch State Park

The bridge at Russian Gulch State Park beach.

Photo from Ashley Brooks, Sonoma-Mendocino Coast District

MacKerricher State Park

Top left: Sun shining through the trees in West Pine Campground. Top right: Frost on the plants (in the mint family) early in the morning. Bottom right: Sunset at Ten Mile Beach. Bottom left: Sun shining through the trees over the whale skeleton. 

Photos from Ashley Brooks, Sonoma-Mendocino Coast District

Portola Redwoods State Park

After all the wet weather in Portola, the slime molds have been moving and growing all over.

Photo from Lucas Dickey, Santa Cruz District

NEWS RELEASES

Dec. 8, 2021

• California State Parks Awards $548.3 Million in Grants to Create Local New Parks Across California as Part of Newsom Administration’s “Outdoors for All” Initiative

NEWS CLIPS

The Weekly Digest includes a collection of news articles related to the
California Department of Parks and Recreation. The views expressed and opinions do not always reflect that of the department.

To view this week's News Clips, please click here.

Weekly Digest Article and Photo Submissions

If you have an article or photo you would like to submit for the Weekly Digest, please send your entries via email to WeeklyDigest@parks.ca.gov.

For an article submission, please include:

• Author’s name and division/district.
• All relevant information (e.g., headline, park name, dates, name of event, individuals’ full names and titles, etc.).

Articles should be no longer than 300 words. 

For photos, please include:

• Photo credit info and captions.
• Photo release forms should be kept on file for non-employees or volunteers.

Unless otherwise noted, all photos included in the Weekly Digest are courtesy of the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

The deadline for Weekly Digest submissions is close of business Thursday. For more information, email WeeklyDigest@parks.ca.gov.