Parks Forward Archives

The Transformation of California State Parks

by Sam Hodder on July 31, 2017

With 280 parks across 1.6 million acres, hosting more than 74 million visitors last fiscal year alone, California is one of the largest state park systems in the United States. In a focused and comprehensive effort to keep these world-class parks open and thriving, seasoned leaders from California State Parks and outside entities helped plan for and implement 60 ambitious initiatives, from a new state-of-the-art reservation system to increased protections and improvements for the parks statewide. Here are just some of the improvements for redwood state parks.

A bright future for California's redwood state parks. Photo by Jon Parmentier

Parks Forward: Increasing Partnership, Investment for California’s State Parks

by Sam Hodder on February 6, 2015

The Parks Forward Report officially adopted this morning is a great step toward a strong future for the California state park system. Having partnered with State Parks for much of our 97-year history, Save the Redwoods League is deeply invested …

California's state parks have so much to offer, yet are underutilized. Pictured is Humboldt Redwoods SP, where League supporters have protected 50,000 acres.

Parks for All: Californians Underserved by State Parks, Commission Finds

by Sam Hodder on August 7, 2014

California State Parks is one small yet important step closer to a more sustainable future, and it’s becoming clear what else must be done to get there. At the Parks Forward Commission meeting in San Diego yesterday, we reviewed the …

Strong partnerships between the League, CSP and others will help our beloved parks thrive.

Charting the Course for California State Parks

by Sam Hodder on May 6, 2014

A report that will chart the course for the future of California State Parks (CSP) is closer to its final form. The Parks Forward Commission met in San Francisco last Wednesday to discuss the most recent draft of the Parks Forward …

Change is in the air. Shady Dell photo by Paolo Vescia.

Conservation 2.0

by Sam Hodder on March 20, 2014

Happy first day of Spring! While our thoughts turn to rebirth and new beginnings of the season, I’m thinking about another kind of new beginning, because conservation as we know it is undergoing some substantial changes. It’s hokey, I know, but …

A Prescription for Parks

by Sam Hodder on January 30, 2014

“It is a scientific fact that the occasional contemplation of natural scenes of an impressive character, particularly if this contemplation occurs in connection with relief from ordinary cares, change of air and change of habits, is favorable to the health …

The spotted owl is another irreplaceable redwoods inhabitant. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

It’s About the Critters Too!

by Harry Pollack on November 4, 2013

The League is working to move State Parks forward to protect the many species that call the redwood forest home. As my colleague Richard Campbell wrote in his blog last week, saving old-growth redwoods is not the same as saving …

It’s About the Children!

by Harry Pollack on October 21, 2013

There are so many reasons to move State Parks forward. For me, the first reason is for our children. Remember how much fun you had in the forest as a child? I recall digging for bugs in the dirt at …

The Coastal Trail, Last Chance section, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park. Photo by David Baselt

Do You Want to Move State Parks Forward?

by Harry Pollack on October 14, 2013

Save the Redwoods League does. In this fast-changing world, we either move forward or we are left behind. California’s state parks house some of the world’s most treasured natural resources, including large portions of our beloved redwood forest. We visit …