One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
CA’s library park pass is staying. Budget enshrines the popular program
California’s latest budget once again includes funding for the state library park pass program.
(
Lux Blue
/
Getty Images
)
Topline:
California’s latest budget once again includes funding for the state library park pass program, which allows residents to check out free vehicle day-use park passes from their local libraries.
What we know: Each year, lawmakers have had to make the case for including the pass program in the state’s budget. This year, however, the budget includes an ongoing appropriation for the program, meaning it will be funded continuously unless lawmakers take action to change it.
Why it matters: The free passes can be used at more than 200 participating state parks. Since the program began in 2021, 33,000 passes have been distributed to branch libraries statewide, according to the California State Parks Foundation.
Officials say: Rachel Norton, executive director of the California State Parks Foundation, said in a statement that the "investment will help connect generations of Californians with the outdoors."
Dig deeper … How to get free entry to California state parks with your library card
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
