Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks

Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks is a vital partner to California State Parks, creatively working to ensure parks and beaches throughout Santa Cruz County and Coastal San Mateo County are thriving and available to all. Friends innovative and collaborative community partnership invests in our cherished state parks and beaches, providing services and funding to support education, equity and inclusion, conservation, facilities improvements, historic preservation, and cultural events. Friends: provides visitor services in the parks by Visitor Service Aides (VSAs) and Senior Visitor Service Aides (SVSAs); operates stores in five parks and online; provides revenue for parks improvement projects and funding for Park employees to deliver interpretive services to the public, as well as maintenance services. Friends also provides staff to assist with: fundraising, grant-writing and membership; volunteer recruitment; event and project management; historic preservation, technology; equity and outreach; accounting; strategic planning; and communications and public relations. Specific accomplishments during the past year include, but are not limited to: Expanded Kids2Parks equity field trip program, serving 2,146 students who attended 34 in-person and 10 virtual field trips. Facilitated Big Basin tree pruning to save old-growth redwoods and trail clean-up. Funded two State Parks facilities Maintenance staff at Castle Rock State Park. Employed 94 Field Staff to support park operations. Funded volunteer and staff training, supplies, and support services. Funded 33 State Park Interpreters who provided educational programs at local parks and beaches. Participated in outreach events in Parks, Museums and in the community. Coordinated projects at the Castro Adobe State Historic Park including a new roof, acquiring historic furnishings, restoring painted baseboards, and managing the adjacent Kimbro and McClune properties for park purposes. Administered the Beach Wheelchair program, including supporting the annual Shared Adventures Day. Made technological improvements such as a more accessible website for field trip reservations and implementing an internal Reservation Dynamics system, including new equipment. Restored the Horse Barn doors at Wilder Ranch. Received the Dolkas-Mertz grant in collaboration with Parks to build a Virtual Mission Bell Exhibit kiosk. Funded facilities upgrades such as the District Power Equipment shed, Castle Rock kiosk window and Sunset firewood shed.