partnerships and ca state parks - andy vought
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On January 16, 2014 we convened a Gathering to discuss partnerships and the future of California State Parks. More about it can be seen here: http://openspacecouncil.org/upload/page.php?pageid=62TRANSCRIPT
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Rainy Season Gathering:Today, tomorrow, and the Next 12 Months from a Park Partner 16 January 2014
• The changing roles of the cooperating association as experienced at two Parks
• Some thoughts on State Parks
• Andy Vought
– President, Portola and Castle Rock Foundation
– Director, Save the Redwoods League– Prior: 25 years Start-up experience– [email protected]– Support Portola and Castle Rock
State Parks– www.portolaandcastlerockfound.org
04/10/2023 Portola and Castle Rock Foundation
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Portola and Castle Rock Foundation
• We’re the 501 (c) 3 –Cooperating Association for: – Portola Redwoods State Park– Castle Rock State Park
• Since 1991
04/10/2023 Portola and Castle Rock Foundation
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Closest State Parks to Silicon Valley …
04/10/2023 Portola and Castle Rock Foundation
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Castle Rock State Park• Ridge hiking – start of Skyline to the
Sea Trail• Unique bouldering and climbing• Castle Rock and Waterman Gap
Trail Camps• 138,000 visitors/year (1)
• 5229 acres; Opened 1968• (1) Statistical Report FY2011-12 – 86%
‘free-use’ hiking.
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Castle Rock Donor Agreement
• Partnerships:– Sempervirens Fund deeply
invested strategically in Castle Rock SP; eventually took lead
• Donor Agreement:• $250,000
– $50,000 from Portola and Castle Rock Foundation
• Two year term
04/10/2023 Portola and Castle Rock Foundation
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Castle Rock State Park Projects
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Portola Redwoods State Park• Redwood hiking and camping• Peters Creek Old Growth, Slate Creek
Trail Camp• 53 family campsites, 4 group sites• 42,000 visitors/year (1)
• 2768 acres; Opened 1945• (1)
Statistical Report FY2011-12
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Portola Redwoods Donor Agreement• Partnerships:
– Save the Redwoods League and Peninsula Open Space Trust nurtured as equal parties to Donor Agreement
• Donor Agreement:• $60,000 DA + $40,000 Improvement Fund
+ Volunteer team• Two year term • Business Plan: Randy Widera• Built ongoing partnership for
infrastructure investments
04/10/2023 Portola and Castle Rock Foundation
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Portola Redwoods State Park Projects
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Everyone’s Role is Changing• Parks
– Continued triage; difficulty fulfilling commitments – adverse climate for creative solutions
• Land Trusts (Sempervirens Fund, POST, Save The Redwoods League)– Longer inventory holding – larger balance
sheet requirements• Cooperating Associations
– Engagement Elevations due to Donor Agreements, Operating Agreements, …
– Revised Mission Statement: Inspire Protection of Castle Rock and Portola Redwoods State Parks Through Quality Educational Experiences and Infrastructure Improvements
04/10/2023 Portola and Castle Rock Foundation
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Parks need to be more affordable…• State Parks are too expensive:
– $35 per night + $8 ResAm = $43– $8-10 daily parking fees– Out of reach of many Californians
• Best path would be the defeated 2009 $15 State Park Access Pass proposal (mandatory: 28m vehicles, net benefit $360M )
• New $150 150th Anniversary, $75 California Park Experience and $50 Historical Passport Passes a great idea
• We need further initiatives and pricing experiments– Targeted price reductions could enhance access
without unduly burdening budget – all camping fees are only 11% of Parks budget.
– Pricing – learn through experimentation; Price gouging on weekends or lowering prices during the week, for example buy 2 get 1
04/10/2023 Portola and Castle Rock Foundation
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A Crisis is a Terrible Thing to Waste …
04/10/2023 Portola and Castle Rock Foundation
• California Parks look costly in comparison to other States:
Source: Statistical Report of State Park Directors, 2010-2011, Tables 1-5
• Benchmarking suggests budget may not be spent as efficiently as other States:– “California [28%] had the second highest percentage of full-time
headquarter employees in the comparison set. Oregon had the highest [34%] and Illinois [3%] had the lowest percentage”
Source: Parks Forward Commission, California State Parks Baseline Financial Assessment, FTI Consulting, p.71
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We Need to Embrace Change Throughout the System
• Market Our Parks Better– Understand our visitors based upon data
• Share this data with partners to leverage value– Try things: accept credit cards, experiment with
pricing, offer wifi, offer light accommodations
• Changing roles for ‘the Supporting Cast’ eg. Land Trusts, Cooperating Associations– Evolve Different Business Models – Develop New Support / Cooperation Alternatives
• Parks Needs to Embrace Parks Forward Highlighted Change– Understand the challenge– Simplify to improve employee efficiency– Reap benefits to fulfill commitments and build
sustainability– And support with money
Source: Word cloud ‘brand analysis of key descriptive words for Portola Redwoods SP, from by RW Widera Consulting
04/10/2023 Portola and Castle Rock Foundation
Source: PR SP Sustainability Plan and Road Map for Park Partner Engagement, RW
Widera Consulting
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Thank You
04/10/2023 Portola and Castle Rock Foundation