
A quail at Henry Cowell Redwood State Park. Photo by Curtis Cartier.
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks celebrates 35 years of helping the Santa Cruz community connect with the natural world with an evening of gourmet appetizers, desserts and ocean views at the Dream Inn.
Founded in 1976 as The Monterey Bay History Association, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks now takes on a big role in helping keep state parks vibrant and alive, explains executive director Bonny Hawley; each year more than 327,601 visitors participated in over 4,000 education programs funded by the organization. “Friends supports everything from educational programs such as school field trips, projects such as fixing up the visitors’ centers, to advocacy,” Hawley says. Advocacy has become especially important, since 70 state parks were listed to close last year, including three in Santa Cruz. Hawley says that Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks funds these endeavors by “raising money through community.”
Local historian Sandy Lydon and County Treasurer Fred Keeley will speak at the event. They will also be auctioning off “some really cool, behind-the-scenes experiences to have in our parks,” Hawley says, such as a personalized fiesta at Santa Cruz mission and a Victorian tea party at Wilder Ranch.
FRIENDS OF SANTA CRUZ STATE PARKS 35TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY is Tuesday, Dec. 13, 6pm-9pm at The Dream Inn, 175 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz. $100.