Join us for a Special Screening of ‘The First 70’

You’ve heard us talk about them before, the young filmmakers of Heath Hen Films who heard about the park closures, grabbed their cameras and set out to film all 70 of the state parks before they close.  Their travels have been tightly packed into an amazing 28-minute documentary titled “The First 70.”

If you live in the Bay Area, please join us for a screening of the film at Sports Basement in the Presidio on Sunday, April 22 at 5 p.m. What better way to spend Earth Day?

Event details and tickets are available here: http://sportsbasement-thefirst70.eventbrite.com/.

The Season of Giving

’Tis the season! Chanukah starts Tuesday and Christmas and New Year’s are just around the corner. Lights are twinkling, trees are decorated, candles are glowing. Have you caught the holiday bug yet? We at CSPF have, especially with all the generosity we have seen swirling around this year.

First, some amazing folks across the state have been working tirelessly and collaboratively to give state parks back to their fellow Californians.

• The Coe Park Preservation Fund stepped up this week to fund Henry Coe State Park from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2015.
• The Bodie Foundation will keep Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve open to the public for at least a year.
• The National Parks Service (NPS) teamed up with State Parks to keep Tomales Bay, Samuel P. Taylor and Del Norte Coast Redwoods state parks open through 2012.
• A crucial $250,000 federal grant was awarded and should allow McGrath State Beach Park to remain open.
• Plenty more groups are working hard to save additional state parks, and we can’t wait to hear of new announcements of saved parks!

As if that isn’t enough, hundreds of generous people are flocking to the Kickstarter site of our friends at Heath Hen Films to help them fund their upcoming documentary, The First 70. You’ve heard us talk about them before, and we are still rooting for them as they finish up this important film. In fact, with the giving spirit all around us, CSPF today contributed to Heath Hen’s Kickstarter site, and we encourage you all to do the same! They have 16 days left to fundraise, and we want to see them succeed.

The spirit of giving is quite contagious as it turns out. Hope you catch it. Happy Holidays!

Bonus: What’s a gift without an overly elaborate wrapping job?

Thankful for State Parks

This Thanksgiving, we are feeling thankful for state parks. And thankfully there has been a lot of positive park news this week. Here’s a recap:

FILM

As mentioned in last week’s post, we are very excited about “The First 70” documentary by Heath Hen Films. Now you can, if you so choose, lend your support by pledging to back the film on Kickstarter. As they explain on the site, “Parks are closing across the nation and we are devoted to the cause, please lend your support to help us showcase these beautiful places. With enough backing beyond the target, this film could get big enough to really make a difference in California and across the country.” Show them some love!

LENS

The restoration of the Fresnel Lens at Pigeon Point is well under way. Paul Rogers of the San Jose Mercury News came out to report on the progress. His story ran Monday: Let there be light: Restoration finally begins at Pigeon Point Lighthouse.

For fun, check out the time lapse video of the lens coming down, and the lens going back together!

OPINION

The editorial staff at the San Francisco Chronicle took up the state parks issue in an excellent editorial on Monday: State’s parks – action needed now to save them.

SLOUGH

Yesterday’s press event at Candlestick, which invited media to cover the releasing of tidal waters into the new Yosemite Slough Wetlands, was very successful (and very muddy). The release of the tidal waters was covered by KTVU, KGO, KQED, KCBS, and San Francisco Chronicle. Chronicle article here: Candlestick Point wetland reclaimed as key habitat.

GIVING THANKS

Finally, CSPF staff members shared why they are thankful for state parks this year. Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Let us know what YOU are thankful for in the comments.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Films for State Parks

We are always amazed by the artists out there who use their personal craft and talent to focus on California state parks. As of late there have been some busy filmmakers around the state making incredible state park documentaries.

We’ve mentioned before a documentary called “The First 70” in the works by Heath Hen Films. Three young filmmakers have taken to the road in a really cool bus to visit all 70 state parks and shoot footage for a documentary. Much to our excitement, they have just debuted their trailer, and it is amazing.

We can’t wait to see the full film. To follow the travels of the Heath Hen Films folks, visit their Facebook page and give them a like.

But that’s not all! Another documentary called “California Forever: The Story of California State Parks” by Backcountry Pictures has wrapped up post-production. This feature-length film highlights the history of California State Parks through an inspiring account of the struggles and achievements that built our State Park system. Another amazing trailer for your viewing pleasure:

CSPF has been involved with this multi-year film project and we know the final product is going to be amazing! It will air on KQED next year.

We are excited that both of these filmmakers have been invited to show some of their work at the Wild & Scenic Film Festival in Nevada City, CA January 13-15. There will also be a film about saving Mono Lake (state park connection!), as well as over a hundred other outdoor films.  A full listing of all the films and their descriptions will be posted on the Wild & Scenic website in early December. Maybe we’ll see you there!

Documenting the 70

Ever since the announcement of the park closures came out, plenty of people have made it their mission to visit the 70 state parks before they close. Even better, a lot of them are documenting it.

One photographer, 70 parks

One of our favorite aforementioned chroniclers is David Noceti from 70 in 70. He has been posting beautiful photographs from the 70 state parks on his blog. You may recognize one of the Providence Mountain State Recreation Area photos from our most recent cover of Parklands. Great stuff by David.

Also in the works is a documentary by Heath Hen Films. Three young filmmakers have taken to the road in a really cool bus to visit all 70 state parks and shoot footage for a documentary. The film will be called “The First 70,” and we can’t wait to see it! To follow the travels of the Heath Hen Films folks, visit their Facebook page and give them a like.

Thumbs up, Heath Hen Films

There are many more bloggers out there documenting the wonder of these 70 state parks before they won’t be allowed past the gate. Lucy D’Mot is blogging at State Park Closure Trip, Christopher Grant Ward is interviewing people for Folk 4 Parks, and Bay Area Backroads’ Doug McConnell is shooting video for CSPF’s Magnificent 70 website (click videos up top).

Have you been following someone who is documenting park closures, or have you been inspired to chronicle them yourself?