May 7, 2018
The Honorable Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher Chair of the Assembly Committee on Appropriations California State Assembly State Capitol, Room 2114 Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Assembly Bill 2534 (Limόn) — SUPPORT
Dear Assemblymember Gonzalez Fletcher,
Thank you for your leadership in connecting more Californians to the outdoors and their state parks. Your leadership is critical to ensuring park access for all Californians. On behalf of our collective organizations, we urge you to support Assembly Bill (AB) 2534.
As you know, unfortunately not all Californians who reflect the diversity of the state are experiencing and visiting state parks. This is especially true of the younger generations who are spending more and more time indoors. At a national level, children are spending less time outside than prison inmates, with the average child playing freely outside for just four to seven minutes a day, according to the recent report The Path Ahead. Additional research shows that children are spending half as much time outside today as they did 20 years ago. Couple that with the fact that 40% of U.S. School Districts have eliminated recess, and outdoor education programs and field trips have declined significantly over the years.
With Assembly Bill 2534 establishing the Outdoor Equity Grants Program, more students will have the opportunity to access the beauty and benefits our state parks have to offer. This bill will increase the ability of low-income students to participate in outdoor environmental education programs, which will provide for enriched, meaningful experiences outdoors. AB 2534 works to give more youth the opportunity for these transformative experiences, fostering the future generation of empowered park stewards among today’s youth.
For the above reasons, we are proud to support AB 2534 and urge your support.
Read full text of Assembly Bill 2534
Sincerely,
Rachel Norton Executive Director California State Parks Foundation
Eric Aaholm Executive Director YES Nature to Neighborhoods
Laura Albers Executive Director Central Coast State Parks Association
Pilar Alcivar-McCoy Legislative Chair California Park & Recreation Society
Steve Barker Founder Wild Places
Elizabeth Cameron Director of Development Mendocino Woodlands Camp Association
Marissa Christiansen Executive Director Friends of the Los Angeles River
Laura R. Cohen, J.D. Director, Western Region Rails to Trails Conservancy
Gina Fromer Chief Executive Officer San Francisco Education Fund
Mary Alice Escarsega-Fechner Executive Director California Association of Local Conservation Corps
Kenji Haroutunian Director California Outdoor Recreation Partners
Jenny Heckeroth Executive Director Mendocino Area Parks Association
Brenda Holmes Executive Director Mountain Parks Foundation
Amy Lethbridge Executive Director Community Nature Connection
Michele Luna Executive Director Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods
Andrea Mackenzie General Manager Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority
Rue Mapp Founder and CEO OutDoor Afro
Rico Mastrodonato Senior Government Relations Manager Trust for Public Land
Matthew McClain Executive Director Mammoth Lakes Recreation
Ben McCue Executive Director Outdoor Outreach
Geoff McQuilkin Executive Director Mono Lake Committee
Russell W. Noack Legislative Advocate California Association of Recreation and Park Districts
Cailin O’Brien-Feeney State and Local Policy Manager Outdoor Industry Association
Kathryn Phillips Director Sierra Club California
David Polivy Owner Tahoe Mountain Sports
Mary Roscoe Children in Nature Collaborative
Daniel Rossman California Deputy Director The Wilderness Society
Jennifer Savage California Policy Manager Surfrider Foundation
Theresa L. Simsiman California Stewardship Director American Whitewater
Ron Sundergill Senior Director – Pacific Region Office National Parks Conservation Association
Kevin Tatsugawa, PhD Wilderness Leadership Program Coordinator Westfield State University, Movement Science Sport & Leisure Studies