WHEREAS, California state parks contain the largest and most diverse natural and cultural heritage holdings of any state agency in the country; and

WHEREAS, Over 86 million people annually visit treasures including the redwood, rhododendron, and wildlife preserves; state beaches; recreation and wilderness areas; and reservoirs and historic parks; and

WHEREAS, The California state parks system manages the state’s finest coastal wetlands, estuaries, beaches, and dune systems, and collaborates with local communities to invest in urban parks and recreational venues; and

WHEREAS, California state parks comprise over 1.4 million acres, with over 300 miles of coastline, nearly 900 miles of lake and river frontage, over 15,000 campsites, and over 3,700 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails; and

WHEREAS, California state parks host nearly 500 educational, interpretive, and multicultural events annually, along with over 125,000 interpretive programs annually that are attended by over 3,000,000 people, and the parks provide nearly 4,500,000 visitor hours of public education; and

WHEREAS, The commitment and dedication of California’s state park rangers, staff, and volunteers enhance both visitors’ experiences and the park resources they preserve and protect, even as their work is made more difficult because of the budget challenges our great state is currently facing; and

WHEREAS, State Parks Month, which is celebrated in the month of May, promotes awareness of the natural environment and increases the use of state parks; now, therefore, be it