Free entrance to 116 state parks
13,000 day-use parking passes will be given out for the public to use Nov. 25
“As Californians, we have every reason to give thanks ...”
Supporters of California’s vast state parks system — which includes everything from towering redwoods to sandy beaches, along with 4,500 miles of hiking trails — are offering thousands of free passes to encourage people to visit parks the day after Thanksgiving instead of battling each other in stores or arguing about the election.
Under a program announced Wednesday morning, the California state parks department and two San Francisco envi-
— Sam Hodder, CEO of Save the Redwoods League
ronmental groups, Save the Redwoods League and the California State Parks Foundation, will provide 13,000 free vehicle day-use passes that the public can use on Friday, Nov. 25.
The passes will cover day-use admission and parking fees without charge to 116 of California’s 280 state parks, including Big Basin Redwoods and Castle Rock state parks in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the East Bay’s Mount Diablo State Park, Butano State Park in Pescadero and Mount Tamalpais State Park in Marin County.
For a full list of the participating state parks and to reserve and print out passes, go to www.greenfriday.org.
The environmental groups supporting the plan said they hope to create a new trend, “Green Friday,” instead of “Black Friday,” that will emphasize getting outside to exercise and enjoy nature with friends and family rather than rushing out to shop for the holidays.
“As Californians, we have every reason to give thanks for some of the world’s most stunning parks,” said Sam Hodder, president and CEO of Save the Redwoods League. “We invite everyone to explore our ancient redwood forests, our pristine beaches, magical deserts, and noteworthy historical and cultural sites. It’s on us.”
The free passes will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis based on each park’s capacity. Only one pass is needed per car. Electronic images of the passes won’t be accepted for admission. All state parks will be open the day after Thanksgiving, and people who do not have a pass still will be able to pay and enter as usual. Day-use fees typically range from $6 to $15 per vehicle.
Last year, Save the Redwoods League sponsored a similar program with 48 redwood parks. The passes were nearly all given out within a few days.
Park boosters say they came up with the idea last year after reading that REI, the large outdoor retail chain, was closing on Black Friday and offering its 12,000 employees a paid day off to go outside. The company is doing the same thing nationwide this year.
“We share a simple belief that time in the outdoors makes us healthier and happier as individuals and as a society,” Jerry Stritzke, CEO of REI, wrote last month on the company’s website. “This year, in particular, I worry about the divisive tone pulling at our nation’s fabric. In my experience, the outdoors is one of the great conveners — able to help people bridge divides. We tend to put aside differences when we are presented with the magnificence of being in nature, no matter our beliefs or allegiances.”
Last year, six states besides California also held free Black Friday programs for their state parks systems: Colorado, Arizona, Oregon, Minnesota, Missouri and Delaware.
Backers of the California program are hoping visitors post images on social media with the hashtag #GreenFriday or #CAStateParks.
“Green Friday speaks directly to our common goals,” said State Parks Director Lisa Mangat.
“It allows people who might otherwise not be able to visit a park to get outdoors for a day with family and friends, and it helps us foster a general sense of stewardship for our magnificent state parks.”