June 26, 2025 – California State Parks
Parks California Invites Community and Tribal Organizations to Apply for 2026 Route to Parks Grants
California State Parks and Parks California today announced the opening of the 2026 Route to Parks grant application period, inviting California-based community and tribal organizations to apply for funding that helps remove transportation and access barriers to California’s 280 state parks. This grant continues Parks California’s commitment to ensuring that all Californians — regardless of background or location — can experience the health, cultural and recreational benefits of time in nature.
Applications for the 2026 Route to Parks grants are due by Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, at 5 p.m. PT.
For the 2026 grants, Parks California encourages proposals that:
- Remove transportation and access barriers to California State Parks;
- Engage underserved communities that face historical or structural barriers to park access;
- Offer recreational, environmental, cultural or historical programming, with most activities hosted at California State Parks;
- Strengthen collaboration between applicants and State Parks staff (coordination required before applying).
In 2025, a Route to Parks grant enabled Salton Sea State Recreation Area to host curated programs designed by Grower’s First as part of its Kids Club Nature. These programs focused on introducing youth and their families to the outdoors through birdwatching, migration tracking activities and other learning experiences.
Salton Sea Coalition 