TPL California Honors Legislators Chesbro and Frommer

SACRAMENTO, 1/28/02 – The Trust for Public Land (TPL) today honored Senator Wesley Chesbro (D-Arcata) and Assembly Member Dario Frommer (D-Los Angeles) with land conservation achievement awards in recognition of their leadership in increasing land conservation funding in California’s 2001-2002 Legislative Session. The awards were presented at a statewide meeting of more than 220 land conservation leaders from throughout California at the Tsakopoulos Library Galleria in Sacramento near the State Capitol Building.

TPL presented its Conservation Legislator of the Year Award to Senator Chesbro for spearheading 2001 legislation that allows for the continuation of essential property tax exemptions for nonprofit organizations that are holding open space land parcels for resource conservation purposes. In addition, Senator Chesbro co-authored 2001 legislation that placed Proposition 40 on the March 2002 Ballot, and continues to help secure public grants for expanding the California Coastal Trail.

“I am extremely gratified to receive this award,” says Senator Chesbro. “Protecting our natural heritage and our precious open space is a fitting legacy for our children and future generations.”

“Senator Chesbro leads the fight to protect California’s magnificent landscapes and to increase outdoor recreational opportunities for our families,” says Rachel Dinno, Government Relations Director for the Trust for Public Land.

Assembly Member Frommer received TPL’s first Urban Park Advocate Award for his tremendous work in authoring and successfully passing AB 1481 last year, establishing the Urban Park Act of 2001. Governor Gray Davis approved $15 million for the program in the State Budget, and if the voters pass Proposition 40 in March, another $140 million would be dedicated to that program.

“I am very pleased we were able to bring this bill to law,” says Assembly Member Frommer. “There was no existing legislation for urban parks in densely populated communities. The Urban Park Act of 2001 helps fill that void. In the long run we will have many parks and playgrounds where children can play.”

“Assembly Member Frommer’s leadership will help revitalize urban communities and provide places for people to recreate throughout California,” says Dinno. “California’s conservationists are now able to further protect the state’s magnificent natural resources, thanks to the leadership of Senator Wesley Chesbro and Assembly Member Dario Frommer. ”

The Trust for Public Land is a national, nonprofit land conservation organization dedicated to conserving land for people as parks, greenways, wilderness areas and natural, historic, and cultural resources for future generations. Founded in 1972, TPL has protected more than 1.2 million acres nationwide and more than 230,000 acres in California.