Trust for Public Land in California - 2023

California THERE IS SO MUCH TO BE PROUD OF IN 2023 AND MORE TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE YEAR AHEAD

Celebrating 50 Years of Impact, Thanks to You! FROM TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND’S CALIFORNIA TEAM

The opening of the Central Jefferson and Quincy Jones Green Alleys in Los Angeles. © JOE SORRENTINO

Since the beginning, TPL’s vision has been rooted in a singular belief: that access to the outdoors is essential to people’s well-being. What started as a bold idea in a small San Francisco office 50 years ago has blossomed into a nationwide movement to ensure everyone, no matter where they live, can experience nature’s countless gifts. At this special milestone, we celebrate the incredible network of TPL advocates who make our work possible and catalyze our future efforts.

With your support, we have preserved iconic landscapes that stand as a testament to the enduring impact of TPL’s work across the country, including Ackerson Meadows in Yosemite National Park, the Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles, and Coast Dairies along the Central Coast. These are among some of the best-known and most-visited places in California—places that are bringing neighbors together and fostering a love for the outdoors, while uplifting local economies and delivering critical, naturebased solutions in the face of climate change.

And we are just getting started! It is an exciting time to be a part of the TPL community, as we look to new opportunities to connect to nature, our histories, and each other. In June, we brought together our founding leaders 2 |

TRUST FOR PUBLIC L AND | 50 YE ARS

and current and former California staff and board members to reminisce and celebrate the first 50 years of TPL’s success and to look forward to the possibilities of the next 50. Our growing green schoolyards movement and ambitious 30x30 conservation goals would not be possible without so many TPL giants—volunteers and staff—paving the way.

With your enduring support, we will continue to build parks and protect land, making California a healthier and more equitable place for everyone. Thank you!

Guillermo Rodríguez Vice President, Pacific Region & California State Director

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Conserving Vital Land in California America’s iconic landscapes evoke a sense of national pride, splendor, and adventure. Our national and state parks, national forests, and other protected public lands embody and reflect our cultural identities and histories while providing a range of critical benefits, including clean air and water, recreation opportunities, and new jobs. In the last year, your support enabled us to preserve 3,690 acres, including these two special places:

Huysink Lake As part of our Sierra Checkerboard Initiative to consolidate private lands across the California Sierra and safeguard them under public ownership, TPL acquired the 760-acre Huysink Lake and enhanced access to one of Tahoe National Forest’s most popular backcountry camping and trail networks. The area contains two miles of perennial streams, 18 miles of intermittent and ephemeral drainages, a lake, two meadows, and an estimated 57 acres of wetlands. By maintaining healthy wetlands and meadows, this special open space protects critical wildlife habitat for birds

DE E R CR E E K BE ACH

BY THE NUMBERS Enhanced recreational access for Oxnard Plain communities

Preferred route for the Coastal Slope Trail 2.2 miles of coastline

8 million 1,250 AC R E S

people live within a 1-hour drive

E SS E N T I A L H A B I TAT FO R M O R E T H A N 20 T H R E AT E N E D O R E N DA N G E R E D S P ECI E S including the Northern goshawk and bald eagle, while reducing the impacts of increased droughts and floods in the region.

Deer Creek Beach In November 2022, after keeping a watchful eye on the oceanfront property for more than 25 years, TPL acquired Deer Creek Beach—the largest unprotected stretch of coastline in Southern California. We are now focusing our efforts on land remediation for safe public access.

Huysink Lake © TPL STAFF

Deer Creek Beach © JOE SORRENTINO 4 |

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As a new addition to the Coastal Slope Trail, hikers will soon enjoy more than 30 miles of coastline, including uninterrupted views of the Pacific Ocean. During the winter months, whale watchers can witness the magical migration patterns of gray and humpback whales through the area, while dolphins and sea lions teem along this largely undisturbed stretch of coastline.

This effort also protects Deer Creek, a critical water source, and native habitat of mammals like the mountain lion and bobcat, as well as more than 20 threatened or endangered species of plants, birds, fish, and crustaceans.

The Frank and Joan Randall Preserve

TPL acquired the 384 acre Frank and Joan Randall Preserve (formerly Banning Ranch), one of the last remaining unprotected coastal wetlands in Southern California. Through a five-year, $100 million campaign, including a $50 million lead donation from philanthropists Frank and Joan Randall, we are protecting this property from development and transforming it from an oil field to a natural oasis. The preserve will provide new opportunities for outdoor recreation for the more than 8.4 million people who live within an hour’s drive. Once remediation is complete, the property will connect to other public parks and create a 900-acre open space network linking Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, and Costa Mesa communities. Aligned with California’s ambitious climate goals and its “30x30” initiative to conserve 30 percent of lands and coastal waters by 2030, restoring the Randall Preserve will help mitigate impacts from sea level rise, sequester carbon in area wetlands, and provide critical wildlife habitat.

L A RG E : © GROUNDM AK ING, LLC; I N S E T: © SA M COMEN

CELEBRATING FRANK RANDALL In June 2023, esteemed conservation leader, Frank Randall, passed away. Frank was a dedicated champion for the preservation of natural spaces, leaving an indelible mark on land conservation efforts throughout California.

His unwavering commitment and tireless work have forever shaped the landscape and enriched the lives of countless individuals who enjoy spending time outdoors.

As our community mourns the loss of Frank, we take solace in knowing that his work and legacy will continue to influence conservation priorities in California for generations to come. TPL is forever grateful for his invaluable contributions to our work to safeguard natural spaces and connect more people to the outdoors.

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California’s Green Schoolyards For 27 years, TPL has led more schoolyard transformations than any other organization in the nation, working alongside thousands of students and parents in school districts from coast to coast to make the most of this resource that is hiding in plain sight. Whether rural or urban, our Community Schoolyards® provide a uniquely strategic solution to our nation’s park equity gap.

In California, we are growing the green schoolyard movement with renovations underway in Oakland and Los Angeles.

Norwood Elementary School In the City of El Monte in eastern Los Angeles County, we are revitalizing Norwood Elementary’s schoolyard into a multi-purpose space with climate superpowers. New trees will help cool the surrounding neighborhood, while bioswales, strategic grading, and native and drought tolerant plants will capture and filter stormwater to prevent flooding. While maintaining the much-loved softball facilities, we will also add two new playgrounds, a walking path, shade structures, fitness equipment, and an edible learning garden. The new green space will serve 7,220 students and neighbors who live within a 10-minute walk, more than a quarter of whom are under the age of twenty.

107th St. Elementary In South L.A., TPL is working with the local non-profit Community Coalition to transform the 107th Street Elementary School’s asphalt schoolground. This is the second schoolyard transformation of our 28x28 initiative—an effort to renovate 28 dilapidated schoolyards in L.A., by the 2028 Olympics.

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© ALE X A HOY ER

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At 107th Street Elementary, we will convert nearly a half-acre of blacktop and barren fields to outdoor classrooms and natural play areas with native landscapes and vegetable gardens. The new, nature-rich schoolyard will promote climate resilience and provide 13,078 students and neighbors with easy access to quality green space.

The Center The Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) Central Kitchen, Instructional Farm, and Education Center (also known as “The Center”) are developing a one-acre educational farm and community garden, in partnership with TPL, that will provide fresh fruits and vegetables to Oakland schools. OUSD will use the farm to incorporate nutrition and STEAM education into their curriculum and create career paths rooted in food security. The Center will also allow for community groups and local agricultural non-profits to use the garden, supporting the expansion of food knowledge throughout the surrounding neighborhoods. Working with landscape architecture firm, BASE, TPL is studying the site and facilitating a robust participatory design process with the OUSD community to develop a conceptual master plan for the farm.

Creating a More Climate Resilient Future for Californians

© R ACHID DAHNOUN

© ANNIE BANG

Equitable access to parks, trails, and community schoolyards is a powerful driver of public health and climate resilience, especially in communities of color and low-income neighborhoods, which are disproportionately impacted by climate change. In California, our Government Affairs and Conservation Finance teams are working with elected officials and community leaders to design, pass, and implement ballot measures that create new public funds for parks and land conservation, and protect communities from natural disasters.

Our team is leveraging strong relationships with legislators and the governor’s office to ensure that TPL’s priorities of improving health, equity, and climate resilience are at the forefront of new policies and funding opportunities. Last year, TPL applied for $283 million in local public funding for projects across the state, and to date we have been awarded $78 million. At the end of 2022, TPL also secured $10 million in state funds to purchase Deer Creek Beach thanks to Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, State Senator Monique Limon, and then State Senator Henry Stern.

In preparation for the 2024 election, the California legislature has moved forward two potential ballot measures that will address future budget gaps for climate and the environment, and advance TPL’s efforts to increase access to green spaces for all Californians. Our Government Relations and Conservation Finance teams are working to support these measures and expand nature-based solutions that reduce climate change impacts and connect more people to the outdoors.

YOU CAN HELP! The November 2024 ballot is growing increasingly crowded, with campaigns vying for California voters’ attention. Donate to our statewide Climate Resilience Initiative to ensure Californians can vote for parks, land conservation, and climate change mitigation.

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THANK YOU for helping improve the health, equity, and climate outcomes for communities in California and beyond.

We could not do this important work without you.

CALIFORNIA ADVISORY BOARD We are so grateful for our outstanding volunteers!

Marcia Choo

Kellie Hawkins

Andy Mercy

Vanessa Smith

Val Cole

Kathryn Welch Howe

Julie Parish

Bob Valliere

Lisa Craypo

Alex M. Johnson

Michael Parish

Francesca Vietor

Alejandro Esparza

Jane Thornton Jones

Desiree Portillo Rabinov

Trina Villanueva

Lucy Finn

Cindy Polite Kamm

Karl Robillard

Keith Weaver

Larry Gelb

Daniel Martin

Daniel Rosenfeld

Chris Wilmers

Shepard Harris

Mandi McKay

Laura Shell

Ward Wolff

Guillermo Rodriguez Vice President, Pacific Region & California State Director guillermo.rodriguez@tpl.org

Join us Help ensure everyone has access to the outdoors. Every park we create, schoolyard we transform, trail we extend, and landscape we protect is thanks to supporters like you. tpl.org/donate/ca

David Zhang Associate Vice President, Philanthropy, California & Principal Gifts Officer david.zhang@tpl.org 23 Geary St., Suite 1000 San Francisco, CA 94108

COV ER , TOP: © STELL A K ALININA; © TPL STAFF; © JOE SORRENTINO/ TPL STAFF; L A RG E: © R ACHID DAHNOUN; THIS PAG E: © JOE SORRENTINO