In a great victory for people and birds in one of America’s most populated areas, residents of Los Angeles County yesterday approved a ballot measure that will raise nearly $95 million a year for parks. Audubon California campaigned heavily for Measure A, which will allocate about $24 million for habitat restoration, clean water and other conservation efforts that will benefit birds and other wildlife.

Measure A, which needed a two-thirds majority to pass, was winning big with more than 73% of the vote this morning.

“I couldn’t be happier that Los Angeles County residents made the best of this once-in-lifetime opportunity to make this investment in parks and open space,” said Marcos Trinidad, director of the Audubon Center at Debs Park in Highland Park. “Working here in Los Angeles’s fourth largest park, we see the need for this every day – and we see just how much it will benefit this community.”

Before voting to place the measure before the voters, supervisors reviewed the results of a study showing broad disparities in access to safe parks throughout the County. While the measure would largely fund grants to build and restore parks, a great deal of language in the measure creates funding for habitat restoration, clean water and other conservation efforts that will benefit birds and other wildlife.

“The children and families of Los Angeles County deserve a park system that matches the beauty and breadth of this wonderful community,” said Audubon California Executive Director Brigid McCormack. “This will create more opportunities for residents to experience nature and the outdoors, it will also fund a number of projects that will restore habitat for birds and other wildlife.”