ARTICLE 1. General Provisions [5096.141. - 5096.145.]

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC 1.
in effect

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5096.142. Section 5096.142.

The Legislature hereby finds and declares that: (a) It is the responsibility of this state to provide and to encourage the provision of recreational opportunities and facilities for citizens of California. (b) It is the policy of the state to preserve, protect, and, where possible, restore coastal resources which are of significant recreational or environmental importance for the enjoyment of present and future generations of persons of all income levels, all ages, and all social groups. (c) When there is proper planning and development, parks, beaches, recreation areas and recreational facilities, and historical resources preservation projects contribute not only to a healthy physical and moral environment, but also contribute to the economic betterment of the state, and, therefore, it is in the public interest for the state to acquire, develop, and restore areas for recreation, conservation, and preservation and to aid local governments of the state in acquiring, developing, and restoring such areas as will contribute to the realization of the policy declared in this chapter.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5096.143. Section 5096.143.

The Legislature further finds and declares that: (a) The demand for parks, beaches, recreation areas and recreational facilities, and historical resources preservation projects in California is far greater than what is presently available, with the number of people who cannot be accommodated at the area of their choice or any comparable area increasing rapidly. Further, the development of parks, beaches, recreation areas and recreational facilities, and historical resources preservation projects has not proceeded rapidly enough to provide for their full utilization by the public. (b) The demand for parks, beaches, recreation areas and recreational facilities, and historical resources preservation projects in the urban areas of our state is even greater since over 90 percent of the present population of California reside in urban areas; there continues to be a serious deficiency in open space and recreation areas in the metropolitan areas of the state; less urban land is available, costs are escalating, and competition for land is increasing. (c) There is a high concentration of urban social problems in California’s major metropolitan areas which can be partially alleviated by increased recreational opportunities. (d) California’s coast provides a great variety of recreational opportunities not found at inland sites; it is heavily used because the state’s major urban areas lie, and 85 percent of the state’s population lives, within 30 miles of the Pacific Ocean; a shortage of facilities for almost every popular coastal recreational activity exists; and there will be a continuing high demand for popular coastal activities such as fishing, swimming, sightseeing, general beach use, camping, and day use. Funding for the acquisition of a number of key coastal sites is critical at this time, particularly in metropolitan areas where both the demand for and the deficiency of recreational facilities is greatest. Development pressures in urbanized areas threaten to preclude public acquisition of these key remaining undeveloped coastal parcels unless these sites are acquired in the near future. (e) Increasing and often conflicting pressures on limited coastal land and water areas, escalating costs for coastal land, and growing coastal recreational demand require, as soon as possible, funding for, and the acquisition of, land and water areas needed to meet demands for coastal recreational opportunities, to implement recommendations for acquisitions of the Coastal Plan prepared and adopted in accordance with the requirements of the California Coastal Zone Conservation Act of 1972, and to implement local coastal programs required pursuant to the California Coastal Act of 1976. (f) There is a pressing need to provide funding for a coordinated state program designed to provide expanded public access to the coast, to preserve prime coastal agricultural lands, and to restore and enhance natural and manmade coastal environments pursuant to activities of the State Coastal Conservancy undertaken pursuant to Division 21 (commencing with Section 31000). (g) Cities, counties, and districts must exercise constant vigilance to see that the parks, beaches, recreation areas and recreational facilities, and historical resources they now have are not lost to other uses; they should acquire additional lands as such lands become available; they should take steps to improve the facilities they now have. (h) Past and current funding programs have not and cannot meet present deficiencies. This condition has become more acute as a result of restrictions on local governmental revenues. (i) In view of the foregoing, the Legislature declares that an aggressive, coordinated, funded program for meeting existing and projected recreational demands must be implemented without delay.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5096.144. Section 5096.144.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (a) “Coastal resources” means those land and water areas within the coastal zone, as defined in subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 31006, and within the Santa Monica Mountains Zone, as described in Section 33105, which are suitable for public park, beach, or recreational purposes, including, but not limited to, areas of historical significance and areas of open space that complement park, beach, or recreational areas, or which are suitable for the preservation of coastal resource values. (b) “District” means any district authorized to provide park, recreation, or open space services, or a combination of such services, except a school district. (c) “Fund” means the Parklands Fund of 1980. (d) “Historical resource” includes, but is not limited to, any building, structure, site, area, or place which is historically or archaeologically significant, or is significant in the architectural, engineering, scientific, economic, agricultural, educational, social, political, military, or cultural annals of California. (e) “Historical resources preservation project” is a project designed to preserve an historical resource which is either listed in the National Register of Historic Places or is registered as either a state historical landmark or point of historical interest pursuant to Section 5021. (f) “Program” means the Parklands Acquisition and Development Program established by this chapter.

Cal. Public Resources Code - PRC § 5096.145. Section 5096.145.

(a) “District,” as defined by subdivision (b) of Section 5096.144, includes a district agricultural association or a citrus fruit fair which is authorized to provide park, recreation, or open-space services, or a combination of those services, of a character commonly provided by a recreation and park district, and which provides those services for the general public on a year-round basis. (b) Park, recreation, or open-space services, or a combination of those services, of a character commonly provided by a county parks and recreation department, that are provided by a county fair for the general public on a year-round basis are eligible for a local assistance grant pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 5096.151 as a county project. (c) The Legislature hereby finds and declares the provisions in this section are declaratory of and in accord with existing law.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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