SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 26,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Potrero Group, a Bay Area-based
consulting and executive search firm with expertise in public
lands, released a new report today exploring California State
Parks' collaboration with Parks California, its first-ever
statutory nonprofit partner.
Leading Together: A New Model for Thriving State
Parks describes this unique public-private partnership
model, shares accomplishments from the nonprofit's first five
years, and provides guidance to other park systems looking to
establish a statutory partnership.
Parks California was founded in
2019 after legislation passed enabling California State Parks to
partner closely with a nonprofit to further its mission and
collaborate on joint priorities. Working as an extension of
California State Parks, the largest and most diverse state park
system in the country, Parks California is designed to help parks
thrive in the face of escalating climate threats and help create
stronger connections between people and parks by working together
to lower invisible barriers felt by many communities.
Dr. Stephen Lockhart, Founding
Chair of Parks California's Board of Directors, told Potrero Group
for the report: "The big opportunity we saw in establishing a
statutory nonprofit partner was forging stability and
sustainability for an agency facing incredible headwinds." Dr.
Lockhart was a member of the Parks Forward Commission convened in
2015 by Governor Jerry Brown to
propose fundamental transformations bringing out the very best in
the California State Park System and ensuring its long-term
viability. "In five years, Parks California has demonstrated the
transformative power of partnership to address the complex
challenges facing our parks and communities—from climate resilience
to equitable access," says Dr. Lockhart.
"A well-aligned statutory nonprofit can provide much needed
flexibility, capacity, and financial resources to its public
partner," says Cleveland Justis,
Potrero Group founder and CEO. "The added support of a statutory
partner like Parks California allows state agencies to cast their
sights beyond day-to-day operations and emergencies so its leaders
can maintain an elevated, forward-looking vision."
Leading Together describes the innovative ways Parks
California contributes to the resilience of California State Parks,
from supporting sea level rise and climate resilience planning to
meeting crises like the CZU Complex Fire in Big Basin Redwoods
State Park, which catalyzed recovery efforts and helped the park
begin reopening in under two years.
Parks California also invests
in local partnerships that create access and remove barriers for
diverse communities so that State Parks can better serve all
Californians. To date, Parks California has granted $4.5M to 96 community organizations, reaching
28,934 people and thousands more indirectly.
Learn more about California State Parks and Parks California's
unique statutory partnership model by reading the full report.
Download LEADING TOGETHER
For more information about Parks California, visit
parkscalifornia.org. Learn more about Potrero Group at
potrerogroup.com.
Stephanie Karp
Potrero Group
(503) 440-3621
379673@email4pr.com
Angela Leung
Parks California
379673@email4pr.com
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SOURCE Potrero Group