Parks at Play

By Karina Wisen

The 2024 election cycle presents an opportunity to delve into political, social, and environmental issues of all scales. Reviewing policies and programs absent from the 2024 ballot season is an impactful method for advocating for what constituents desire in their legislature and for raising awareness of successful policies that lack implementation funding.

The California State Library Parks Pass, launched in April 2022 as a three-year pilot program, aimed to foster community connection, participation, and outdoor accessibility by providing free access to state parks. This program has been notably successful in increasing participation and accessibility within California’s state park system [1]. In San Francisco, for example, library branches issued more than 2,500 passes through the Tenderloin branch by July 2022 [1]. Similarly, Sacramento’s public library checked out over 6,500 state park passes within a year [2].

In January 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom announced a $38 billion deficit for California’s 2024–2025 budget. This shortfall necessitated the use of reserves, spending delays, and significant spending cuts [3]. Among the cuts was the Library Parks Pass Program. While small programs like this can seem difficult to justify amid large deficits, the budget—of which the parks pass program would consume only 1.03% annually—could reasonably accommodate its continuation assuming budget levels remain constant [1].

There are alternative options to cutting the Library Parks Pass. One possibility is reallocating 1.03% of the budget toward the library pass program, thus continuing the program’s proven success over the past three years. Another alternative is a direct partnership between the library and park systems, though this would leave state funding out of the collaboration, potentially causing funding gaps since both systems are public. Moreover, accessibility challenges remain, as visitors often require reliable transportation to reach state parks which is difficult without personal vehicles.

Why should the loss of the Library Parks Pass Program matter? Cutting an effective, three-year program affects various stakeholders, from community members and library cardholders to avid campers and first-time state park visitors. Another group, although less directly involved, includes educational institutions that could use the pass program for educational purposes through library resources. Monitoring and routinely reassessing such programs ensures funds are effectively allocated. The environmental connections fostered by such programs encourage public environmental stewardship, but sustainable impact requires consistent and long-term support rather than temporary “trial runs.” Lasting change can come from successful environmental policy, stakeholder support, and legislative accountability to continue and expand effective programs.

Works Cited