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.

(b) The demand for parks, beaches, recreation areas and recreational facilities, and historical resources preservation projects in the urban areas of our state are even greater: over 90 percent of the present population of California reside in urban areas; there continues to be approximately a 30 percent 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 recreation 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. Current 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 requires, as soon as possible, funding for, and the acquisition of, land and water areas needed to meet demands for coastal recreational opportunities and 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.

(f) By 1980, the need for local parks, beaches, and recreation areas and recreational facilities will be nearly twice as great as presently required.

(g) By 1980, unless the lands and waters that hold recreation potential today are acquired or reserved for recreation as soon as possible, there will be a marked shortage of recreation lands and waters on a local and regional basis.

(h) Cities, counties, and districts must exercise constant vigilance to see that the parks, beaches, recreation lands 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.

(i) Past and current funding programs have not and cannot meet present deficiencies.

(j) There is a pressing need to provide statutory authority and 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 man-made coastal environments.

(k) 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.

(Added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 259. Approved in Proposition 2 at the November 2, 1976, election.)