National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) and Nature Valley are generating greater access to nature by preserving public lands and expanding national parks. This partnership year and supported by a $200,000 donation, Nature Valley and NPCA are furthering efforts to preserve the land that comprises the Rim of the Valley in Los Angeles, California to protect access to some of the area’s last undeveloped land for local families and communities.

In Los Angeles’ backyard, just beyond the hustle and bustle of the city, a nature escape awaits. By expanding Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area to include the Rim of the Valley, more families will have access to a national park – and can experience some of the last remaining wild lands in Los Angeles.

For nearly a decade, NPCA has led a community-based effort to advocate for the Rim of the Valley’s national park designation as an extension of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Spearheading the Rim of the Valley Coalition, NPCA works to galvanize community support for federal legislation and is uplifting and amplifying the voices of Angelenos to secure protection of this land for the benefit of people and ecosystems alike.

To strengthen these efforts, NPCA and Nature Valley will be sharing more about the wild spaces within the Rim of the Valley and the pivotal opportunity we have to protect native landscapes and wildlife migration routes, preserve cultural and historical resources and better connect people of all ages to national parks not far from the city. View our video above, and continue below to learn more about these efforts and how you can get involved!

What is the Rim of the Valley?

118,000 acres of wild land near Los Angeles, the Rim of the Valley will improve access to nature for local families, safeguard historical resources related to Latino and Hispanic heritage and Los Angeles’ other rich cultures and protect important wildlife corridors.


Blog Post 5 Reasons the Rim of the Valley Should Be Protected May 2024 | By Alana Garibaldi National Parks Conservation Association and Nature Valley are working together to protect places in nature for everyone to enjoy – including land that comprises the Rim of the Valley in Los Angeles, California.  

Protecting Places Like the Rim of the Valley Helps Ensure Greater Access to Parks for All

Big or small, young or old…the outdoors is for everyone. The Los Angeles Metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the country, yet according to the LA County Parks & Recreation Needs Assessment (PDF), less than half of residents live within half a mile of a public park. Expanding Santa Monica National Recreation Area to include the Rim of the Valley will increase access to nature for local families and people of all ages and backgrounds.

In addition to creating greater access, this expansion will also protect in perpetuity historical resources related to Latino and Hispanic heritage and Los Angeles’ other rich cultures. This protection of cultural sites within the Rim of the Valley will allow the National Park Service to tell the story of the region’s nationally significant history, including El Pueblo de Los Angeles, Los Encinos State Historic Park, the City’s downtown historic district and the birthplace of Los Angeles. The Rim of the Valley is an area rich in historic and cultural sites Valley that recognize the relationship of the land to Hispanic, Latino and other cultures worthy of national recognition and protection by the National Park Service.

Blog Post A Hiking Guide to the Rim of the Valley May 2024 | By Alana Garibaldi An insider’s guide to exploring this region of California that could soon become part of the National Park System.

Now that you’ve learned more about the Rim of the Valley, we encourage you to:

  • Create

    your own park story – explore parks with your friends and family

  • Share

    the importance of protecting these places and stories with others

  • Learn

    the rich history and stories surrounding parks and public lands in your community

Be sure to follow along on NPCA’s Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Vimeo and TikTok as new videos are released over the coming months!

To learn more about NPCA’s partnership with Nature Valley and its impact, watch our previous series of videos celebrating places and stories within nature:

Video Stories NPCA & Nature Valley National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) and Nature Valley, supported by a $200,000 donation, are furthering the permanent protection of places and spaces that honor the people and stories who shaped our public lands. Through a video series we are celebrating and bringing awareness to the historical and cultural heritage of our Hispanic and Latino communities – while generating greater access to nature by preserving public lands and national park sites.
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Since 2009, NPCA’s partnership with Nature Valley, and the more than $4 million donated to-date, has helped protect and preserve – as well as raise awareness for ways to enjoy and give back to – our national parks. For more information about Nature Valley, visit www.naturevalley.com.

Learn about the challenges and opportunities facing national parks, then use your voice to advocate on their behalf.

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