Articles for State Parks

Getty Villa, Will Roger’s ranch and other iconic landmarks impacted by Los Angeles wildfires
2 months ago

Getty Villa, Will Roger’s ranch and other iconic landmarks impacted by Los Angeles wildfires

CNN  

CNN — As residents in the Los Angeles area grapple with this week’s devastating wildfires, several iconic landmarks and beloved local institutions have fallen victim to the flames. “If you’ve ever eaten at the Reel Inn on PCH, you probably admired the time capsule Topanga Ranch Motel cottages just off the parking lot,” the tour company Esotouric said on X. …

Social Media Community Villa Museum California Pacific State
Will Rogers’ ranch house and motel owned by William Randolph Hearst consumed by Palisades fire
2 months ago

Will Rogers’ ranch house and motel owned by William Randolph Hearst consumed by Palisades fire

LA Times  

Will Rogers’ former ranch house was destroyed by the Palisades fire on Jan. 8, 2025. Will Rogers’ historic ranch house, owned by the famous social commentator, actor and performer, and the Topanga Ranch Motel, built by newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst, were victims of the fires that have wreaked havoc throughout Southern California over the last two days, according to …

Parks California House Motel Palisades Topanga Quintero
Northern California man arrested on suspicion of starting fire that ravaged historic Bidwell Mansion
2 months, 1 week ago

Northern California man arrested on suspicion of starting fire that ravaged historic Bidwell Mansion

LA Times  

A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with the Dec. 11 fire that severely damaged Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park in Chico. A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of deliberately starting a fire that ravaged the historic Bidwell Mansion, an iconic landmark in Chico and the former home of the city’s founder, authorities said. …

Parks Man California Carlson Mansion Ramsey Historic
Minister Announces 1 Handloom, 4 Textile Parks in AP
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Minister Announces 1 Handloom, 4 Textile Parks in AP

Deccan Chronicle  

Vijayawada:Handlooms and textiles minister S. Savitha announced establishment of textile parks at Emmiganur, Rayadurgam, Mylavaram and Pamidi, along with a handloom park in Chirala. Replying to a question from Telugu Desam MLA B. Jananageswara Reddy in State Legislative Assembly, she revealed that the state government will formulate a new textile policy soon for development of the weavers’ community. The minister …

Handloom Savitha Park Textile Emmiganur Weaving Societies
New York parks employee dies fighting fires as air quality warnings issued there and New Jersey
4 months ago

New York parks employee dies fighting fires as air quality warnings issued there and New Jersey

LA Times  

Smoke from a forest fire rises above the trees in Evesham, N.J., on Thursday when firefighters said conditions were the driest in New Jersey in nearly 120 years. A New York parks employee died battling one of a number of wildfires in New Jersey and New York amid dry conditions that have prompted air quality warnings in both states, authorities …

New York New Jersey County York Jersey State Parks Parks Employee
Florida ‘whistleblower’ says he was fired for leaking plans to build golf courses in state parks
6 months, 1 week ago

Florida ‘whistleblower’ says he was fired for leaking plans to build golf courses in state parks

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A former state employee who said he leaked information about the plans to build golf courses and hotels in Florida’s state parks has apparently been fired. But James Gaddis, who described himself as an “ethical whistleblower,” said he doesn’t regret making the public aware of the proposals, according to the Palm Beach Post. Gaddis, who worked as …

Florida State Gaddis State Parks Golf Courses
Following protests, DeSantis says plan to develop state parks is ‘going back to the drawing board’
6 months, 1 week ago

Following protests, DeSantis says plan to develop state parks is ‘going back to the drawing board’

Associated Press  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that a controversial proposal by his administration to develop golf courses, pickleball courts and hotels at state parks is “going back to the drawing board.” Questioned by reporters Wednesday, DeSantis worked to distance himself from the plan, which prompted hundreds of protesters to gather at the parks and sparked rare bipartisan …

Florida Environmental Protection Parks Republican State Plan Public
California wildfires: Thompson Fire in Butte County prompts evacuation order for thousands as heat builds in the West
8 months, 1 week ago

California wildfires: Thompson Fire in Butte County prompts evacuation order for thousands as heat builds in the West

CNN  

CNN — Thousands have been ordered to evacuate in Northern California due to a wildfire burning in Butte County, as an “exceptionally dangerous and lethal” heat wave in the West ramps up. The governor’s proclamation cites “continued high temperatures throughout the day and night, dry conditions, and strong winds” that have increased the intensity and spread of the fire. The …

Record Heat Parks San Francisco West California High
Refugio State Beach closed for repairs, but officials hope to reopen it later this summer
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Refugio State Beach closed for repairs, but officials hope to reopen it later this summer

LA Times  

Refugio State Beach was inundated by rain and flooding in February that caused a “complete failure” of a culvert system. Refugio State Beach — on a pristine stretch of coastline in Santa Barbara County — was inundated by extreme rain and flooding in February that caused a “complete failure” of a culvert system, resulting in numerous sinkholes, according to the …

Beach Damage State Date Moreno State Parks Refugio
The magical California state park that doesn’t allow visitors
9 months, 3 weeks ago

The magical California state park that doesn’t allow visitors

LA Times  

Sheltered within the imposing lava domes of the Sutter Buttes is an oasis of rolling hills, rich with wildflowers and Native American artifacts. For the last two decades, the Sutter Buttes have also been home to a California state park that almost no one is allowed to visit. In 2003, the state of California spent about $3 million to buy …

Land Parks Native American Public Access California State Officials
Opinion: Californians love the state’s parks. We just don’t know they’re state parks
10 months ago

Opinion: Californians love the state’s parks. We just don’t know they’re state parks

LA Times  

Other states have mountains, deserts and scenic shorelines, but California excels at preserving these natural features in its park system, seen above at Crystal Cove State Park in Newport Beach. Opinion Editorial: How to get Californians to visit their state parks It’s a poorly run and out-of-touch parks system, indeed, that needs a commission to tell it to accept credit …

Parks State San Californians Historic Park Park System State Parks
Former California State Parks employee awarded $2.3 million in discrimination lawsuit
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Former California State Parks employee awarded $2.3 million in discrimination lawsuit

LA Times  

Former California State Parks employee Angel Alba was awarded nearly $2.3 million in a case in which the jury deliberated about five days. A jury awarded a former California State Parks employee nearly $2.3 million after a trial laid bare claims that the agency and a former boss discriminated against him for his Mexican heritage and retaliated when he spoke …

California State Mexican Malibu Brody Alba State Parks
Former California State Parks employee seeks $4 million in discrimination lawsuit
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Former California State Parks employee seeks $4 million in discrimination lawsuit

LA Times  

Angel Alba worked at Malibu Creek State Park, shown, for more than a decade. Angel Alba, a former maintenance supervisor and worker at several state parks in Malibu, filed the suit in 2018 in Los Angeles County Superior Court against the agency and his former boss, Lynette Brody, after more than a decade of contentious workplace issues, according to court …

Discrimination Work Parks California State According Closing Arguments
America’s four most polluted national parks are in California, study finds
11 months, 3 weeks ago

America’s four most polluted national parks are in California, study finds

LA Times  

Some of California’s most treasured parks are threatened by blight caused by pollution and climate change, according to a pair of new reports. The four national parks with the highest ozone levels are all in California, with Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks topping the list of parks struggling with air that’s dangerous to breathe, according to a recent report …

Climate Change National Parks Climate Pollution National Air Parks
California is poised for a wildflower 'superbloom' - here's how travellers can catch it
11 months, 3 weeks ago

California is poised for a wildflower 'superbloom' - here's how travellers can catch it

BBC  

California is poised for a wildflower 'superbloom' - here's how travellers can catch it Getty Images Experts share how to best view the bloom – without causing another 'poppy apocalypse'. "I'm swimming in an abundance of wildflowers here," says Danny McCamish, senior environmental scientist at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in eastern San Diego County, California. Last year's California "superbloom" was …

Flowers Parks California State Desert Wildflowers Fraga
California libraries may lose free passes to state parks as budget deficit mounts
1 year ago

California libraries may lose free passes to state parks as budget deficit mounts

LA Times  

As California faces a staggering budget deficit, library card holders may soon lose the ability to check out free passes to more than 200 state parks, including popular destinations near Los Angeles. In April 2022, California State Library and California State Parks launched the three-year pilot program that handed out the passes — hangtags that fit over a vehicle’s rearview …

Budget San Francisco California State San Program Norton
Ohio commission awards bids to frack oil and gas under state parks, wildlife areas
1 year ago

Ohio commission awards bids to frack oil and gas under state parks, wildlife areas

Hindustan Times  

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio commission awarded bids to frack oil and gas under state parks Monday, despite statewide backlash and an ongoing investigation into possibly fraudulent support. HT Image The Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission granted the mineral rights to several oil and gas companies, allowing them to frack for oil and gas under land owned by …

Wildlife Land Gas Parks State State Parks Frack Oil
Tennessee governor’s budget plan funds more school vouchers, business tax break, new state parks
1 year, 1 month ago

Tennessee governor’s budget plan funds more school vouchers, business tax break, new state parks

Associated Press  

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As Tennessee’s recent boom years fade with slower tax revenues, Gov. Bill Lee is forging ahead on some big-ticket items in his state budget proposal — among them, a dramatic expansion of taxpayer-funded vouchers to help kids attend private schools, a big tax break for businesses, and growth of state parks and natural areas. The Republican’s spending …

Health School Tax Hospitals State Billion Tennessee
Ohio commission approves fracking in state parks and wildlife areas despite fraud investigation
1 year, 3 months ago

Ohio commission approves fracking in state parks and wildlife areas despite fraud investigation

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

Oil Gas Fracking State Commission Public Meeting
Ghoulish footballfish makes rare appearance on Orange County beach — on Friday the 13th
1 year, 4 months ago

Ghoulish footballfish makes rare appearance on Orange County beach — on Friday the 13th

LA Times  

California State Parks personnel discovered a 14-inch Pacific footballfish around 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 13, at Crystal Cove State Park in Orange County. For the second time in three years, a rare and otherworldly-looking black anglerfish was found at Newport Beach’s Crystal Cove State Park, showing up on Friday the 13th with its gaping mouth, jagged, translucent teeth and …

Pacific State Park California State Parks Crystal Cove State Park Horeczko Crystal Cove Ghoulish Footballfish
Record wet winter inflicted more than $210 million in damage to California parks
1 year, 8 months ago

Record wet winter inflicted more than $210 million in damage to California parks

LA Times  

A parking lot at Seacliff State Beach in Aptos, Calif., was damaged by heavy storm surge in January. California’s historic wet winter inflicted at least $210 million in damage to the state’s parks during storms in January and March, with a popular state beach near Santa Cruz accounting for nearly half of that damage, according to a state report submitted …

Parks California State Million Moreno State Parks Storms Damaged
Giant sequoias, desert land and alpine peaks? California’s 280 state parks have it all
1 year, 11 months ago

Giant sequoias, desert land and alpine peaks? California’s 280 state parks have it all

LA Times  

Ah, the spring bloom. Mill Creek Trail in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Crescent City, Calif. That’s why I have a new mission for you: Visit all 280 California state parks and stamp each one on a new digital passport created by the state. California State Parks just launched this program to encourage us to give some love to our …

Land Parks California Los Angeles Los Angeles This Year
Pennsylvania spending $45M to establish 3 new state parks
2 years, 5 months ago

Pennsylvania spending $45M to establish 3 new state parks

Associated Press  

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania is spending $45 million to add new state parks at a nature preserve in Tunkhannock, on Big Elk Creek in the Philadelphia suburbs and along the Susquehanna River near Wrightsville, officials were set to announce Tuesday. The additions to the state’s 121-park system will be an existing nearly 700-acre nature preserve on the Vosburg Neck in …

Pennsylvania Land State County Park Dunn Chester County
Watchdog: Oklahoma tourism deal cost taxpayers $12.4M
2 years, 10 months ago

Watchdog: Oklahoma tourism deal cost taxpayers $12.4M

Associated Press  

OKLAHOMA CITY — Amendments to a lucrative contract between the state and a barbecue restaurateur to build and operate restaurants at six state parks ballooned the cost of the project by $12.4 million, the head of a state watchdog agency told House lawmakers on Thursday. Mike Jackson, the director of the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency, said his office quickly …

Contract Restaurant Oklahoma Cost State Million Jackson