The Riverside County Regional Park and Open-Space District (RivCoParks) is a special district operating in Riverside County, California. The District’s focus encompasses providing high-quality recreational opportunities and preserving important features of the County’s Natural, Cultural and Historical heritage.[1]
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RivCoParks was originally founded in July 1926 when the Riverside County Board of Supervisors created a Board of Forestry to oversee what little open space the County had acquired up to that date. In 1959 the Board of Supervisors created a parks department and appointed a Parks Superintendent.[2] In 1990 the parks department became a district during a general election and formed under the California Public Resources Code 5506.7. (a)..[3]
The parks and facilities administered by RivCoParks vary greatly in size and character. Current inventory includes 71,669 acres of land, 160 miles of regional trail, 11 regional parks, 6 archeological sites, 4 nature centers, 4 historic sites, and 14 wildlife reserves. Some of the parks are wilderness areas, others include a variety of recreation attractions with opportunities for swimming, angling, boating, camping, biking, hiking, and horse riding.[4]
The work of the District is supported by 3 commissions, 1 committee and 6 support groups, which raises funds for the improvement of the parks and programs. The District is a member of the National Association of Regional Parks and Open Space Officers (NACPRO), the California Association of Regional Parks and Open Space Administrators (CARPOSA), the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS).
The mission of the Riverside County Regional Parks and Open-Space District is to acquire, protect, manage, and interpret for the inspiration, use and enjoyment of all people, a well-balanced system of park-related places of outstanding scenic, recreational, and historical importance. [5]