For Immediate Release
The public-private partnership works to care for, preserve and protect California’s 280 state parks, ensuring these natural resources are available to all
SACRAMENTO — The Public Lands Alliance honored Parks California and California State Parks with its 2025 Public Lands Partner Award at its recent annual convention, which celebrates the leading-edge achievements in the preservation of public lands and the enrichment of the visitor experience.
The award is presented to the nonprofit organization and its agency partner for shared achievements.
“Partnerships continue to grow in their importance to the vitality of America’s public lands and the people who depend upon them,” said Dan Puskar, President and CEO, Public Lands Alliance. “Each of our awardees has an incredible passion not only for the stewardship and enhancement of our public lands but to serve their visitors and local communities.”
Created in 2016 by the California Senate and launched in 2019, Parks California is an official California nonprofit public benefit corporation that builds collaborative partnerships and programs to support California State Parks and its 340 miles of public coastline, 970 miles of public lake and riverfront, 15,000 campsites and 5,200 miles of trails.
“This award reinforces what we know to be true across our great state,” said California State Parks Director Armando Quintero. “Our unique partnership with Parks California is a first-in-class solution to creating a sustainable State Parks System that contributes to a healthier and richer quality of life — today and tomorrow.”
The collaboration focuses on the long-term stewardship of California’s 280 state parks, supporting programs that improve access by bringing more people into parks, fostering inclusion through culturally relevant experiences and education, and advancing innovative solutions to environmental challenges like sea-level rise, ecosystem restoration and watershed protection. Parks California’s community grants programs awarded more than $6.4 million in 2024 to more than 125 local nonprofit, community, tribal and local government organizations that bring new visitors to state parks.
- Arts in California Parks: Rooted in connecting people to art in nature, grants support collaboration between artists and local organizations to establish public installations and programs in local parks. Learn about current Arts in California Parks grantees.
- Career Pathways: Launched in 2021, this community grant program delivers job training and skills development to parks stewards and employees, ensuring parks staff of the future reflect the state’s diversity and are prepared to lead parks for the next generation.
- Route to Parks: This program has provided more than $3.1 million to nonprofit and local organizations since launching five years ago to pilot innovative transportation solutions that help underserved people visit and enjoy state parks and beaches. Meet the 2025 Route to Parks grantees.
Additionally, Parks California gathers scientists, experts, Indigenous and nonprofit leaders to do things like:
- develop forest stewardship strategies;
- track wildlife patterns;
- manage invasive species statewide;
- deploy technology and tools to help protect vulnerable ecosystems and species; and
- set up statewide watershed restoration partnerships.
“This recognition means a great deal to us,” said Kindley Walsh Lawlor, president and CEO, Parks California. “We’re here to strengthen California State Parks – from rural and urban parks to the beaches along our iconic coast. Our singular vision is to ensure the longevity of these majestic spaces to enable more people to build life-long connections with nature.”
The 2025 award winners were announced across two special sessions at the annual Public Lands Alliance Convention and Annual Trade Show in Las Vegas. The 2025 Partnership Awards were sponsored in part by Impact Photographics.
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MEDIA CONTACTS
Parks California
media@parkscalifornia.org
California State Parks
Newsroom@parks.ca.gov
