 Bringing you timely and concise updates on California's Outdoors for All movement
July 2025
Find a Public Beach at Lake Tahoe
Story by: California Tahoe Conservancy
 As we welcome you to enjoy your public lands at Tahoe, we have tools to help you make the most out of your visit. Trying to find a dog-friendly beach? Or maybe a beach with picnic facilities, or kayak rentals? The Tahoe Fund and the California Tahoe Conservancy, in partnership with the agencies that manage Lake Tahoe’s public beaches, maintain TahoePublicBeaches.org to help improve the recreation experience for residents and visitors.
TODAY: 3 to 5 p.m.
Public Listening Session for Tribal Stewardship
Policy Toolkit
THIS THURSDAY: Noon to 1 p.m.
SECRETARY SPEAKER SERIES
Cutting Through the Noise: Federal Impacts on California and What We’re Doing About It
California Conserves Over One Million Acres of Land and Coastal Waters in Just One Year
Story by: Governor Newsom’s Press Office & California Natural Resources Agency
Governor Gavin Newsom recently announced California protected over one million acres of land and coastal waters in the last year, marking significant progress toward the state’s goal of conserving 30% of its lands and coastal waters by 2030. The amount of land and water protected in the last year is equivalent to the size of Glacier National Park.
This announcement comes as the Trump administration continues its assault on public lands and National Parks. Last month, the Newsom administration sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior warning of public safety risks and reduced access due to major cuts proposed to staff and programs that support National Parks and other federal public lands. In contrast, California is expanding access to the outdoors, investing in communities and laying the groundwork for further expansion.
The state’s 2025 30x30 Progress Report marks the halfway point toward the state’s goal of conserving 30% of its lands and coastal waters by 2030. The report shows significant progress: as of June 2025, 26.1% of California’s lands and 21.9% of its coastal waters are now under long-term conservation and care, bringing the state well within reach of its 30x30 target.
Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy Releases 2024 Year in Review
Story by: Maximiliano Ochoa
The Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy’s 2024 Year in Review is now available online. Learn about the Conservancy’s local accomplishments in support of statewide initiatives, including:
- Land acquisitions that are critical for wildlife corridors that help protect 27 endangered species in the Coachella Valley and that support the statewide 30X30 initiative.
- Grant programs and awards in 2024 across the Coachella Valley that support the Outdoors for All initiative, expanding access to parks and outdoor spaces in communities that need them the most through strategic partnership and programs.
- Strengthening partnerships and tribal engagements through ancestral land returns, grant initiatives, and supporting tribal customary use of natural resources.
California Library Parks Pass Funded through 2026
Story by: California State Parks
 Great news for library users and outdoor enthusiasts! California’s approved 2025/2026 budget extends the State Library Parks Pass program through December 2026.
What is the State Library Parks Pass? In partnership with the First Partner’s Office and the California State Library, State Parks is providing free day-use vehicle entry to over 200 participating state park units operated by State Parks for check out to library-card holders. The pass is valid for entry of one passenger vehicle with capacity of nine people or fewer, or one highway licensed motorcycle.
Passes are available at all public libraries across the state, with 33,000 passes available in approximately 1,100 branches statewide. These passes have also been distributed to tribal libraries across the state and have become one of the most frequently borrowed items in the State Library system! You can check out a pass just using your library card.
In addition to the State Parks Library Pass, State Parks offers the following free and discounted passes:
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FREE-California State Park Adventure Pass: Gives fourth graders and their families who live in the state a free pass to access 54 selected state parks for a full year.
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FREE-Golden Bear Pass Program: This annual, free vehicle day-use pass is valid at 200+ participating state parks. It is available for families who receive CalWORKs, individuals who receive supplemental security income, and income-eligible Californians over the age of 62.
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FREE-Distinguished Veteran Pass: A lifetime pass for California residents who are honorably discharged veterans meeting certain requirements that entitles the passholder to use of all basic facilities (day-use, camping, and boating) in state parks for free.
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$3.50-Disabled Discount Pass: A lifetime pass for individuals with permanent disabilities, entitling the passholder to a 50% discount on vehicle day-use, family camping, and boat-use fees.
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$20-Senior Golden Bear Pass: Valid for the calendar year, Golden Bear pass holders 62 years or older and their spouse/domestic partner receive free entry to many state parks during non-peak season.
Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation Receives Grant to Construct First New Regional Park in Three Decades!
Story by: San Gabriel & Lower Los Angeles Rivers & Mountains Conservancy
 Picture: Rendering of a Proposed Park Area
On June 16, the San Gabriel & Lower Los Angeles Rivers & Mountains Conservancy (RMC) Board approved a grant, not to exceed $5 million, to the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation for the construction of the Puente Hills Landfill Park Scenic Overlook. Located on approximately 142 acres of space at the former Puente Hills Landfill, the park will be the first new regional park for the county in over three decades.
With ever-increasing pressures of urban density and climate change, this open space is an opportunity to serve the communities of San Gabriel Valley, Avocado Heights, and Hacienda Heights with access to parks and natural areas.
Since 2015, LA County Parks and Recreation worked with the community to design and select elements for Puente Hills Landfill Park. Close to 6,000 residents provided feedback through workshops, surveys, outreach events, etc. Information was provided in Spanish, Mandarin, and Korean.
The project is part of California’s effort to develop a nature-based park within heavily urbanized park-poor communities. RMC is the only source of funding for the overlook section of the Puente Hills Landfill Park Scenic Overlook.
RMC is one of 10 conservancies within the California Natural Resources Agency. Their mission is to preserve open space and habitat in order to provide for low-impact recreation and educational uses, wildlife habit restoration and protection, and watershed improvements within the eastern Los Angeles County and western Orange County.
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The Santa Ana River Conservancy program of the California State Coastal Conservancy announces the availability of grants to public agencies, tribes and nonprofit organizations for programs that facilitate and enhance the public’s opportunities to explore the Santa Ana River and its tributaries. Approximately $250,000 will be awarded in this grant round. The anticipated source of funding for this grant round is the 2024 Climate Bond (Prop 4). Learn More
Deadline: Applications must be submitted via email to grants@scc.ca.gov by Friday, Aug. 1, 2025.
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California State Parks and Parks California invites California-based community and tribal organizations to apply for the 2026 Route to Parks grant program, which helps remove barriers to transportation and access within California’s 280 state parks. Grant awards are anticipated to average between $25,000 and $30,000, with around 30 grants expected. Learn More
Deadline: Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, by 5 p.m.
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State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways is accepting grant applications for the Clean Vessel Act Education and Outreach Grant Program. A maximum of $360,000 of federal funding is available for two targeted regions of California – the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary and Southern California Coast -- to organizations for educating recreational boaters about proper vessel sewage disposal and the use of pumpout facilities, and monitoring pumpout and dump stations. Learn More
Deadline: Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, by 10 a.m.
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The Sierra Nevada Conservancy is accepting concept proposals for its Sustainable Recreation, Tourism, and Equitable Outdoor Access Grant Program. This program will distribute approximately $4.1 million of remaining Proposition 68 funds to projects that enhance, promote, and develop sustainable recreation and tourism within the Conservancy’s Sierra-Cascade service area.
Deadline: Proposals will be accepted and reviewed on a continuous basis and considered on a quarterly cycle. The first review will be of all Concept Proposals received by Dec. 1, 2025, and the first grant awards will be made by the SNC Governing Board in June 2026. Learn More
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July 9:
July 17: Delta Protection Commission Meeting
July 21: San Gabriel & Lower LA Rivers and Mountains Conservancy Board Meeting
July 23: Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy Board Meeting
July 25: Baldwin Hills & Urban Watersheds Conservancy Board Meeting
California Coastal Cleanup Day
Saturday, September 20
Join the Trashure Hunt!
This year, California Coastal Cleanup Day will become the world's largest scavenger hunt. Special "trash" items will be hidden at cleanup sites all across the state. If you find one of them, you can redeem it for valuable prizes! Check back later in the summer for more details and to find your local cleanup location.
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The Trailblazer newsletter is issued each month to deliver up-to-date information on the Outdoors for All Initiative. This movement is expanding parks and outdoor spaces in communities that need them the most, supporting programs to connect people who lack access, fostering a sense of belonging for all Californians outdoors, and much more. For questions or comments, please contact: outdoors@resources.ca.gov.
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