State Parks details deferred maintenance, fire damage and access programs; lawmakers press for stronger management of campsite reservations

Armando Quintero, director of the California Department of Parks and Recreation, told the Senate Budget Subcommittee the department manages 280 park units across more than 1.65 million acres, serves roughly 70 million visits per year and is prioritizing equity, deferred maintenance and climate resilience.

Key priorities and funding - Deferred maintenance and climate bond: Quintero said the department has awarded roughly $1.2 billion to local park projects since 2008 through the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program and is seeking additional climate bond investments. The governor’s proposed climate bond included funding for deferred maintenance ($175 million for parks in the governor’s plan) and $190 million requested for statewide park development in 2025–26, Quintero said. - Wildland fire response and damage: Quintero and staff described the Palisades Fire in early January that burned more than 8,600 acres at Topanga State Park and Will Rogers State Historic Park, destroying historic structures and causing broad damage. State Parks deployed more than 60 staff who logged…