The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) Historically, California’s local and neighborhood parks often serve as the recreational, social, and cultural centers for cities and communities, providing venues for youth enrichment, senior activities, and family recreation.

(b) Neighborhood and state parks provide safe places to play in the urban neighborhoods, splendid scenic landscapes, exceptional experiences, and world-recognized recreational opportunities, and in so doing, are vital to California’s quality of life and economy.

(c) For over a decade, the state’s commitment to parks and natural resources has dwindled. California has not kept pace with the needed funding to adequately manage and maintain its multibillion dollar investment in neighborhood, urban, and state parks and natural areas resulting in disrepair and overcrowding of many park facilities and the degradation of wild lands.

(d) The magnificent Pacific Coast, outstanding mountain ranges, and unique scenic regions are the source of tremendous economic opportunity and contribute enormously to the quality of life of Californians.

(e) Continued economic success and enjoyment derived from California’s natural resources depends on maintaining clean water, healthy ecosystems, and expanding public access for a growing state.

(f) The backlog of needs for repair and maintenance of local and urban parks exceeds two billion five hundred million dollars and the need for maintenance of state parks exceeds one billion dollars. The state’s conservancies and wildlife agencies report a need for habitat acquisition and restoration exceeding $1.8 billion.

(g) This act will begin to address these critical neighborhood park and natural resources needs.

(Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 461, Sec. 1. Approved in Proposition 12 at the March 7, 2000, election.)