Indio Hills Palms Park Property and the Coachella Valley Preserve , located in the Indio Hills , contain the Thousand Palms Oasis and are a protected area in the Coachella Valley , located east of Palm Springs near Palm Desert, California . The Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuge is contained within the Coachella Valley Preserve, and all are in the Colorado Desert section of the Sonoran Desert and adjacent to the Lower Colorado River Valley region.
25-557: The Indio Hills Palms Park Property is managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation . The Coachella Valley Preserve , a 2,206-acre (8.93 km) area, is maintained by the non-profit Nature Conservancy and is one of the few in the desert with an oasis fed by natural springs that supports the only California native palm, the Washingtonia filifera , or California Fan Palm. The San Andreas Fault , visible from
50-481: A condition of undisturbed integrity," or State Cultural Reserves which consist of areas selected and managed to preserve the integrity of historic structures and features as well as areas with spiritual significance to California indigenous people. State Wildernesses are areas where the environment has not been affected by humans and are relatively undeveloped state-owned or leased lands which have retained their original characters and influence or have been restored to
75-492: A near-natural appearance. State wildernesses can be established within other state parks system units. Natural preserves are nonmarine areas of outstanding natural or scientific significance established within the boundaries of other units to preserve features natural features such as rare or endangered species and their supporting ecosystems. Cultural preserves are those established also within other units to preserve cultural features such as sites, buildings or zones important to
100-537: Is divided into 21 districts. California's first state park was the Yosemite Grant , which today constitutes part of Yosemite National Park . In 1864, the federal government set aside Yosemite Valley for preservation and ceded the land to the state, which managed the famous glacial valley until 1906. California's oldest state park, Big Basin Redwoods State Park , was founded in 1902. Until 1921, each park
125-859: Is the state park system for the U.S. state of California . The system is administered by the California Department of Parks and Recreation , a department under the California Natural Resources Agency . The California State Parks system is the largest state park system in the United States. California State Parks administers 279 separate park units on 1.4 million acres (5,700 km ), with over 280 miles (450 km) of Californian coastline ; 625 miles (1,006 km) of lake and river frontage; nearly 15,000 campsites; and 3,000 miles (4,800 km) of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails. Headquartered in Sacramento , park administration
150-627: Is the 10 -mile (16 km) long two-lane road through Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park in Humboldt County, California , named to honor his efforts in the creation of Redwood National and State Parks . This road had formerly been the route of US Route 101 . Though shorter in distance, it is similar in quality to the Avenue of the Giants in Southern Humboldt County. As a result of constructing
175-488: The National Park Service ) serving as acquisition officer, the new system of state parks rapidly began to grow. William Penn Mott Jr. served as director of the agency under Governor Ronald Reagan . In May 2008 The National Trust for Historic Preservation listed the park system as a whole on their list of America's Most Endangered Places . On January 10, 2008, Governor Schwarzenegger 's office announced that
200-790: The American National Park Service and the executive director of the Save the Redwoods League . Newton was born in 1889 in San Francisco, California . He attended Lowell High School , as well as the University of California, Berkeley , where he graduated in 1912. He served in the U.S. Army Balloon Corps in World War I. The destruction that he witnessed motivated him strongly towards conservation. In 1919, he and his brother Aubrey formed
225-791: The California Fan Palm groves. The Coachella Valley National Wildlife Refuge is a restricted access habitat for the Coachella Valley Fringe-toed Lizard , listed as an endangered species in California, a threatened species in the United States and the IUCN classifies it as endangered. This Riverside County, California -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . California Department of Parks and Recreation California State Parks
250-772: The California State Park System will consider indefinite closures of all or part of 48 specific individual parks (one in five) to help meet the challenges of the looming (projected) $ 14.5 billion deficit facing California for its 2008-2009 budget year. On September 25, 2009, Governor Schwarzenegger's office announced that all state parks would remain open during the 2009-2010 fiscal year using one-time budget reduction methods in maintenance, equipment, and services. A record wet winter in 2023 caused more than $ 210 million in storm damage to California's State Parks. Responsible for almost one-third of California's scenic coastline (280 miles), California State Parks manages
275-628: The Drury Brothers Company, an advertising and public relations agency. That same year, the organizers of the Save the Redwoods League , many of whom knew Drury from the university, asked Drury Brothers to manage the League. Newton Drury became executive secretary in charge of publicity and fundraising, a position he held for twenty years. Drury and the league obtained a six-million dollar bond measure passed to buy California redwood groves. Drury declined appointment as NPS Director in 1933, but accepted
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#1732884854017300-617: The Interior Oscar L. Chapman over Chapman's support for dams in Dinosaur National Monument contributed to Drury's resignation in 1951. After his resignation from the park service Drury accepted the position as head of the California Division of Beaches and Parks. He was instrumental in changing some of the operational policies of the state park system to that similar to the national park system. In particular, he dropped
325-593: The State Parks and the millions of people who visit them each year. Parks are patrolled by sworn State Park Peace Officers , of which there are two classifications, State Park Ranger and State Park Lifeguards. Subdivisions of California State Parks include the California Office of Historic Preservation, Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division, and the Boating & Waterways Division. The Parks Forward Commission
350-1149: The classification of units of the state park system. All units that are or will become part of the system, except those units or parts of units designated by the state legislature as wilderness areas or are subject to any other provision of law are classified by the State Park and Recreation Commission into one of these classifications. State Parks "consist of relatively spacious areas of outstanding scenic or natural character, oftentimes also containing significant [...] values. State recreation units "consist of areas selected, developed, and operated to provide outdoor recreational opportunities" and are classified as either State Recreation Areas, Underwater Recreation Areas, State Beaches, and Wayside Campgrounds. State Recreation Areas consist of "areas selected and developed to provide multiple recreational opportunities," and are selected for "having terrain capable of withstanding extensive human impact and for their proximity to large population centers, major routes of travel, or proven recreational resources." Underwater Recreation Areas consist of "areas in
375-413: The first state park bond issue. Its efforts were rewarded in 1928 when Californians voted nearly three-to-one in favor of a $ 6 million park bond act. In addition, Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. completed a statewide survey of potential park lands that defined basic long-range goals and provided guidance for the acquisition and development of state parks. With Newton B. Drury (later to be named director of
400-522: The human history of California. State Marine Reserves have a uniform classifications established by the Marine Managed Areas Improvement Act: State Marine Reserve, State Marine Park, State Marine Conservation Area, State Marine Cultural Preservation Area, and State Marine Recreational Management Area. Newton B. Drury Newton Bishop Drury (April 9, 1889 – December 14, 1978) was the fourth director of
425-542: The job in 1940. He was the first director without prior national park responsibilities, but came with strong conservationist credentials, having served as executive secretary of the Save the Redwoods League in California. During World War II he successfully resisted most demands for consumptive uses of park resources. Less eager than his predecessors to expand the park system, he opposed NPS involvement with areas he judged not to meet national park standards. Differences with Secretary of
450-714: The nonmarine aquatic environment selected and developed to provide surface and subsurface water-oriented recreational opportunities..." State Beaches consist of "areas with frontage on the ocean or bays designed to provide beach-oriented recreational activities." Wayside Campgrounds consist of "relatively small areas suitable for overnight camping and offering convenient access to major highways." Historical units are "nonmarine areas established primarily to preserve objects of historical, archaeological, and scientific interest, and archaeological sites and places commemorating important persons or historic events." State seashores "consist of relatively spacious coastline areas with frontage on
475-936: The ocean, or on bays open to the ocean [...] possessing outstanding scenic or natural character and significant recreational, historical, archaeological, or geological values." State Historic Parks consists of 47 specially-designated historic sites across California, that highlight crucial events in the history of California and provide an educational opportunity for those interested in learning about Californian history, namely students. These include battlegrounds, Californian missions , historic estates, cave paintings , and colonial fortifications, among others. State Reserves "consist of areas embracing outstanding natural or scenic characteristics or areas containing outstanding cultural resources of statewide significance," and are classified as either State Natural Reserves which consist of areas selected and managed to preserve their ecology, fauna, flora, geological features, and scenic qualities "in
500-512: The parks and providing reservations while being overwhelmed by the responsibility for managing the park system. The sites managed and preserved by the department are categorized into different types. There are 87 State Parks, 63 State Beaches, 51 State Historic Parks, 32 State Recreation Areas, 16 State Natural Reserves, 14 State Park Properties, 8 Vehicular Recreation Areas, 2 State Marine Reserves, 1 State Historical Monument, 1 State Seashore, and 1 Wayside Park. The Public Resources Code provides
525-516: The recreational emphasis in summer programming to that of interpretation with a natural history emphasis. Drury died in December 1978. He received a Pugsley Medal twice, a silver medal in 1940 and a gold medal in 1950. In 1945 he received the Garden Club of America 's Frances K. Hutchinson Medal . He was board chairman of the Save the Redwoods League at his death. The Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway
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#1732884854017550-984: The state's finest coastal wetlands , estuaries , beaches , and dune systems. California State Parks contains the largest and most diverse natural and cultural heritage holdings of any state agency in the nation. State park units include underwater preserves, reserves, and parks; redwood , rhododendron , and wildlife reserves; state beaches, recreation areas, wilderness areas, and reservoirs; state historic parks, historic homes, Spanish era adobe buildings, including museums, visitor centers, cultural reserves, and preserves; as well as lighthouses , caverns , ghost towns , water slides, conference centers, and off-highway vehicle parks. These parks protect and preserve an unparalleled collection of culturally and environmentally sensitive structures and habitats, threatened plant and animal species, ancient Native American sites, historic structures and artifacts. The Department employs State Park Peace Officers Law Enforcement to protect and preserve
575-459: The valley floor as a line of greenery along the base of the hills, captures groundwater that nurtures the palms. The 1,000 Palms Oasis grove is easily reached by foot from the trailhead. Naturally occurring artesian ponds provide habitat for the Desert pupfish , a small, endangered species of freshwater fish - roughly the size of a young goldfish. These ponds are part of the self-guided tour among
600-481: Was formed after the California Legislature called for the formation of a multidisciplinary advisory council to conduct an independent assessment and make recommendations. The commission issued a report in 2015 that noted the lack of maintenance for many parks along with visitors who do not reflect the diversity of California's population. The report also said the agency is using outdated technology for managing
625-494: Was managed by an independent commission or agency. In 1927, the California Legislature, with the support of Governor C. C. Young , established the State Park Commission, and its original membership included: Major Frederick R. Burnham , W. F. Chandler, William E. Colby (Secretary), Henry W. O'Melveny, and Dr. Ray Lyman Wilbur . The following year, a newly established State Park Commission began gathering support for
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