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A year of important milestones
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks had a great year in 2016. Thanks to our supporters and community partners for helping us accomplish so much! You can read all about it in our annual Parks Update but we'd like to highlight two items as we end another busy year.
First, Friends joined California State Parks to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park in 2016.
Through the Anniversary Lecture Series, engaging storytellers revealed the indigenous people's experience in the Santa Cruz Mission; showed how archaeology helped reveal the history of this important place and provided clues about life at nearby Mission Santa Clara; brought to light the community advocacy that saved the building; and showed the complex and creative historic restoration that made our park possible. As part of the final lecture, we honored members of the Adobe Coalition, including early founders Barney and Pat Levy, for their many contributions to opening the public park we enjoy today.
Our sincere thanks to those storytellers: Mark Hylkema, Martin Rizzo, Amah Mutsun Tribal Chair Valentin Lopez, Linda Hylkema, Karen Hildebrand, Santa Cruz Mayor Cynthia Mathews, Daryl Allen and Gil Sanchez.
In 2016, Friends also celebrated our organization’s founding. Forty years ago, the Monterey Bay Natural History Association (MBNHA) was founded “to promote the educational and interpretive activities of the State Park system.” The MBNHA eventually became Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks. We’ve grown a lot since those early days and so have our parks. A sincere “thank you” to the vision of our founders who joined together to support our parks: Mary F. Doody, Harold D. Bradshaw, Water F. Martell, Donald D. Hoyle, Dr. Calvin S. Hall, Nancy A. Boyle, Chris M. Stokes, Paul D. Hladik, Lawrence A. Cermak and Anton J. Trigeiro.
We wish you all a happy and healthy year ahead!
Bonny Hawley
Executive Director, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks
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Dear Santa: All I want for Christmas is the Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks supports the creation of the Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument, a 5,800-acre property on the North Coast of Santa Cruz County that was gifted to the Bureau of Land Management in 2014.
As President Barak Obama's tenure in the White House ends, we hope he will designate this special open space as a national monument. The designation would protect the land from any future development and maintain public access.
This holiday season, we invite you to show your support for preserving this special open space. Call the White House (202-456-1111) or send an email asking President Obama to designate the Cotoni-Coast Dairies National Monument. It's all we want for Christmas!
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Get 2017 started on the right foot with a First Day Hike
There will be 22 First Day Hikes at state parks and beaches in Santa Cruz and coastal San Mateo counties. These guided events range from leisurely walks — like a 2-mile stroll at Pescadero Marsh Nature Preserve — to longer adventures, such as a 6-mile trek through Big Basin to Ocean View Summit. See the full list of local hikes and walks here.
First Day Hikes, now in its sixth year, is a nationwide promotion of healthy lifestyles and year round outdoor recreation through free guided hikes. Last year 1,100 hikes were hosted across the nation and more than 55,000 people in all 50 states participated — an increase of 14,800 participants over 2015.
The State Parks guided hikes are free. Parking fees apply at most state parks and beaches. Fees range from $8-$10 and help support our parks. Learn more and plan your visit on our website.
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