Parks California is thrilled to announce the recipients of our 2024 Route to Parks grants program! Currently in its fourth cycle, the Route to Parks grants program has been addressing transportation and other barriers to help more people connect with nature. This year, 29 non-profit organizations across California will be awarded grants to facilitate transformative experiences for over 5,300 participants.
In collaboration with the California Department of Parks and Recreation’s Waterway Connections Initiative, we expanded the program this year to include an emphasis on water-related outdoor access. This year’s proposals were also notable for utilizing multi-modal transportation methods, with a heavy focus on bike-commuting and public transit.
Meet our 2024 Route to Parks grantees and learn about their initiatives!
“The River Parkway Trust is grateful for the chance to build on the success of our Youth Parkway Ambassadors and Voyagers Investigating Sierras, Trails, and Seas programs, extending the opportunity to more Madera Unified high school students this year. As recipients of the Parks California Route to Parks grant, we can reach local students to deliver outdoor skills training and foster leadership development in outdoor spaces across the San Joaquin River watershed, spanning from the Sierras to the sea. Support from Parks California will play a vital role in nurturing the next generation of conservation leaders.”
– Julia O’Kane, president of the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust Board
In its first three years, Route to Parks grants have been awarded to 60 organizations statewide. The program enables grantees to design activities that best meet their community’s needs and deliver transformative experiences. You can read more about how we measure and evaluate this program’s impact.
A recent participant summarized their experience perfectly, saying that the program “has helped me realize that there is a whole entire world out there, and it’s beautiful! And if you share it with other people – or even if you spend it alone – you may have a life-changing experience.”
– Recent Route to Parks participant
The Route to Parks grants program aligns with the goals of California Natural Resources Agency’s Outdoors for All program and is made possible through the collaboration of California State Parks, Parks California, and the generous support of private donors.
How does Route to Parks come to life? Hear from some of the participants from one of our inspiring grantees, Adventure Risk Challenge, as they discover a new connection with nature and talk about about what adventure means for them. Watch their story:
