Outdoors for All (original) (raw)
Welcome to Outdoors for All!
We invite you to explore California’s outdoors and support an Outdoors for All.
California is known around the world for its iconic and beautiful outdoor spaces. Yet for too many Californians, these places, recreational activities, and their benefits remain out of reach. The State of California believes in the right of all Californians to have access to recreational opportunities, and to enjoy and protect the cultural, historic, and natural resources found across the Golden State.
Why is it important to prioritize time in the outdoors and safeguard these environments?
- Nature is critical for our physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Research shows that people who visit outdoor spaces for 30 minutes or more during a week have lower rates of depression and high blood pressure.
- Outdoor spaces help communities adapt to climate change by serving as refuge from extreme heat, filtering polluted water that runs off roads after it rains, and storing carbon dioxide in trees.
- When designed with ecosystem health in mind, outdoor spaces can be good for wildlife and biodiversity, too, providing spaces for plants and animals to thrive.
- Finally, outdoor recreation is a reliably powerful economic engine for the state. California is home to the nation’s largest, active outdoor-industry economy.
Championed by Governor Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, California created the Outdoors for All initiative to expand access to the outdoors. In partnership with a broad array of governments, community organizations and tribes, California is expanding parks and outdoor spaces in communities that need them the most, supporting programs to connect with people who lack access, fostering a sense of belonging for all Californians outdoors, and much more. We invite you to join the movement of an Outdoors for All. On this webpage, you’ll find links to public outdoor spaces at state parks and beyond, safety tips, grant programs, resources, a partner kit, and much more.
If you’d like to stay connected and hear more about our work, success stories, and ways to get involved, sign up for The Trailblazer, the new Outdoors for All Newsletter.
Contact Information
Questions or comments about the Outdoors for All initiative? We’d love to hear from you: