TRAILBLAZING
Most people don’t view their daily dog-walking route or preferred trail for running as valuable input that could directly impact the future of outdoor spaces.
But the California Trails Survey, spearheaded by the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) and California Department of Parks and Recreation, is calling for experiences like that from trail users statewide until Feb. 28.
Feedback and on-the-ground observations about the state of trails across California will help pinpoint possible trail access barriers and guide future investments and grant opportunities included in the 2024 Proposition 4 climate bond, according to the CNRA.
“Trails are such a critical part of enjoying the outdoors, and we want all Californians to have a say in where our path goes from here,” CNRA Secretary Wade Crowfoot said in a press release.
The effort is part of a larger plan to make the outdoors more inclusive and accessible and help meet California’s 30-by-30 goal of protecting 30 percent of the state’s land and coastal waters by 2030.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order in 2020 committing California to the broader global conservation effort to fight climate change and protect plant and animal life. The trails survey will aid in directing funds, expanding trail networks to improve ecosystem resilience, and increasing conserved lands that support biodiversity.
In response to community needs and priorities, future programs launched by the state will distribute climate bond funds for trail projects, which will include improvements to existing trailheads and accessibility and new trail construction. Starting in July, California will begin funding and supporting high-priority trail projects.
The CNRA and State Parks work to create and renovate outdoor spaces “with communities and not for communities,” said Gloria Sandoval, the CNRA deputy secretary for access.
“Time in nature matters,” Sandoval said. “Outdoor spaces, including trails, support our mental, physical, and social well-being, while also connecting and strengthening our communities, enhancing climate resilience, protecting wildlife and biodiversity, and contributing to a strong economy. The climate bond gives us a vital opportunity to meet this moment by improving and expanding access for more people.”
Along with taking the California Trails Survey and participating in virtual public meetings, communities across the state can submit to the California Trail Photo Contest. Participants can upload photographs in four categories: Trail Use, Trail Management, Trail Features, and Artistic Merit, until Feb. 28. Select images will be featured on CNRA and State Parks social media pages, and participants can win an annual California Explorer Vehicle Day Use Pass.
“In the short term, success means Californians actively participating in the trail survey,” Sandoval said. “In the long term, success is achieving a clear understanding of trail system needs so California can better support the economic, social, and environmental well-being of its communities–especially for disadvantaged, severely disadvantaged, and vulnerable communities.”
To fill out a survey, learn more about it, or enter a photo into the contest, head to myinput.com/californiatrailssurvey.