‘Now Is The Time For Action’ For Latinos To Seek More Parks

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With the January 2015 release of California’s Parks Forward recommendations Latinos and all Californians have the chance to take part in rebuilding the California parks system.

According to the recommendations, parks are essential to the well being of Californians.

In a recent op-ed, Ron Gonzales, former mayor of San Jose and president/CEO of the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley writes about securing parks for California and the power that Latinos have to make such changes.

“By speaking out now, we can improve the health of Hispanic Californians in nearly every corner of the state,” Gonzales said. “We can secure safe places for our kids to play and socialize and permanently alter the landscape of Latino neighborhoods. We can expand access to healthy-living resources, which is crucial for fostering healthy communities and helping people live successful lives.”

The report and plans for long-term sustainability are the result of work done by the Parks Forward Commission, a group created only two years ago by Gov. Jerry Brown and the Legislature, after several California parks closed due to state budget cuts.

The 2015 Parks Forward recommendations lay out a Parks Vision for 2025 along with an action plan that includes goals such as:

• developing a diverse department staff that is a model of excellence;
• ensuring that park maintenance needs are fully funded;
• collaborating with non-profits and multiple stakeholders to manage the state’s natural, historical, cultural, and recreational assets and to ensure the interconnectedness of parks and open space;
• ensuring that urban Californians have access to safe, well-maintained parks within a one-half mile walk of where they live
• providing education, training and mentoring for inspiring California’s younger generations to become park users, volunteers, and park professionals; and
• ensuring that parks reflect the ethic, age, and income diversity of the state.

Although parks are one of California’s most valuable resources, according to Gonzalez, many Latinos still do not have nearby access to safe parks.

He said: “In 2007, we found that 61 percent of Silicon Valley Latinos were ‘very concerned about the quality of parks and open space’ in their area. More troubling is the fact that only 40 percent of Latinos ‘strongly agreed’ that a nearby park or playground was safe during the day.”

Now with the new Parks Forward recommendations in place, Gonzalez urges Latinos to act. One example of groups already taking action is Parks Now—a diverse group doctors, environmentalists, students, and more—who will be working to implement the Parks Forward recommendations.

“Now is the time for action,” Gonzales said. “We need accessible, well maintained, and safe parks in all underserved Silicon Valley neighborhoods.”

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