Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced that California State Parks will likely be free to enter on the Martin Luther King Jr. Day vacation on Monday, after the Trump administration ordered nationwide parks to cost entry charges that day.
Newsom’s announcement comes because the nation approaches the one centesimal anniversary of Black Historical past Month, and after the U.S. Nationwide Park Service eliminated each Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth from its checklist of fee-free entrance days.
“Dr. King taught us that ‘darkness can’t drive out darkness; solely mild can try this.’ Whereas the Trump administration tries to erase his legacy and switch nationwide parks and monuments into locations of exclusion and concern, California solutions with mild,” Newsom mentioned in a media assertion.
Based on the governor’s workplace, entry will likely be free at over 200 state parks, which will be discovered right here.
Some California parks, together with state vehicular recreation areas (off-highway car parks), these with tour or per-person entry charges like Hearst Fort and people run by accomplice organizations will nonetheless want a payment.
In November, the Trump administration introduced it was altering some guidelines round Nationwide Park entry in 2026, together with the times that have been free to enter, and an elevated charges for foreign-travelers as a part of an “America-first” coverage.
The company additionally added Flag Day, which is Trump’s birthday, as a free entry day.
“These insurance policies be certain that U.S. taxpayers, who already assist the Nationwide Park System, proceed to get pleasure from reasonably priced entry, whereas worldwide guests contribute their fair proportion to sustaining and enhancing our parks for future generations,” the administration mentioned within the announcement.
