This year, the California State Parks are observing the birth of our State Park System and the 
beginning of the park movement.
On June 30, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill granting 39,000 acres of Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Big Tree Grove to the State of California. Never before had land been set aside to protect its natural state for the public to enjoy. This historic legislation was the beginning of not only the California State Park System, but the national park idea we know today.
Responsible for almost one-third of California’s scenic coastline, the California State Park system includes 280 parks, beaches, trails, wildlife areas, open spaces, off-highway vehicle areas, and historic sites. Orange County has 5 state beaches and 1 state park that you are probably familiar 
with. The state beaches are Bolsa Chica, Huntington, Corona del Mar, Doheny and San Clemente and the state park is Crystal Cove in Corona del Mar.
The CA state parks protect and preserve an unparalleled collection of culturally and environmentally sensitive structures and habitats, threatened plant and animal species, ancient Native American sites, historic structures and artifacts . . . the best of California’s natural and cultural history.]]>