Folsom Library, State Parks partner to provide park passes

It's about to become even easier to visit California State Parks, as the Folsom Public Library will soon have 100 passes available year-round to check out. To kick off the start of the partnership between the California State Library and California State Parks, Folsom Public Library will host an educational talk highlighting some of the benefits of state parks. State Park Interpreter Nicole Barden is scheduled to present an all-ages friendly naturalist talk about the plants and animals found in local state parks. The event is at 1 p.m. March 4 in the Library Meeting Room. The state-wide partnership provides local libraries with passes which allow free day-use for one vehicle at more than 200 participating State Park units. One-hundred passes will be available year-round to check out from the Folsom Library for up to three weeks at a time. There are group pass kits for clubs, scout troops or extended families, which have four passes bundled together. "Saturday's Ranger Talk will only cover a small portion of the plants and animals that are protected by our local parks," Barden said about the event. "Within a 90-minute radius of Folsom, locals can visit 26 different state parks from the top of the Sierras down to the Sacramento River Delta, providing a huge variation in weather, terrain, plants and wildlife. State Parks also preserve California history at sites like Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, so there are endless adventures to be had with the California State Library Parks Pass program." Residents can also use the Library Parks passes to join Barden's monthly bird and natural history walks at nearby parks. This new partnership is just one of many ways Folsom Library shares with the community. In addition to books and DVDs, the library has 3D printers, board games and Adventure Packs, which provide everything needed to try out a new hobby. "Libraries allow people to explore new ideas and have new experiences every day through books and electronic media," Senior Librarian Andrew Tweet said. "With the California State Library Parks Passes, our community can learn by visiting our State Parks for free." "Libraries are trusted community hubs where Californians know they can find what they need to work, play and thrive," California State Librarian Greg Lucas said. "This partnership with State Parks now allows Californians to 'check out' California's great outdoors at their community library." Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot said he hopes the program will expose even more people to California's State Parks. "All Californians should have the opportunity to be outdoors in nature," Crawfoot said. "This innovative new program will enable more Californians to explore our incredible State Parks system, and in the process create more equitable access to nature and the outdoors." For more information on the State Parks Passes, visit the library website www.folsom.ca.us/library or call 916-461-6136. For information on Folsom Lake SRA, visit www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=500 or call 916-988-0205.