Monterey County Parks & Recreation Articles

The sharp whacking sound of pickleballs ricocheting off of paddles became too much for neighbors surrounding Forest Hill Park’s four pickleball courts in Carmel. They pleaded with Carmel officials to do something to restore peace to the neighborhood. On Dec.…

The number of National Historic Landmarks in Monterey County just increased.

There’s a new requirement for anyone operating a motorized boat either on the bay, sea or lake starting Jan. 1, 2025: You must carry a California Boater Card. If you don’t have the card while operating a boat when a…

For conservationists, the dream of preserving Ferrini Ranch, an approximately 870-acre property that straddles Toro Park along Highway 68, has been in the ether for decades, long before the County Board of Supervisors, in a 3-2 vote, approved a development…

As of Monday, Dec. 9, when the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District’s board came out of closed session just before 11pm, General Manager Rafael Payan has been put on administrative leave. He will remain on leave until the board meets…

When I, Pam Marino, lived in Santa Clara County, I’d sometimes look at maps to see just how possible it was to hike from my house over the Santa Cruz Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. It was totally doable, linking…

For years, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve has been burdened by overtourism. The 150 parking spaces inside the reserve fill up quickly, and many drivers are turned away, so visitors try to find a place to park on Highway 1.

Seacliff State Beach was obliterated by storms in 2023. California State Parks is mobilizing the public to reimagine its future.

KING CITY — The internet site TheTravel.com has recognized King City, Calif., as one of the “Cutest Small Towns Near California National Parks.”

GREENFIELD — The San Jose Earthquakes and Chevron unveiled a new futsal court for the Central Coast community and hosted a free youth soccer clinic last Tuesday afternoon at Patriot Park in Greenfield.

It’s a mixed bag of results for the trio of property tax measures on the Nov. 5 ballot benefiting schools and parks in North County—while one appears on its way for approval, another is going in the opposite direction, and…

An effort to remember and honor the Chinese immigrants who are a part of Pacific Grove’s history is gaining steam, with approximately $100,000 raised toward the construction of a pavilion, moon gate and garden in Elmarie Dyke Open Space next…

Long-empty train tracks west of Highway 1 offer a spectacular view of the dunes and the Monterey Bay. Since 2021, people who signed up for handcar rides have enjoyed it while feeling the breeze.

Voters in North Monterey County will decide on three property tax measures in the Nov. 5 election that benefit schools and parks. While none overlap, one measure is going before the same district of voters that passed a property tax…

Locke-Paddon Community Park is an oasis in the middle of Marina – but everyone agrees it is lacking in attention. A growing chorus of Marina residents want to see a well-maintained pond, access to the water and a new garden…

Each day doctors write prescriptions for medications to combat diseases and conditions like diabetes, heart ailments and depression. What if, along with a prescription for medication, came a prescription to head to the park for some fresh air? That was…

BRADLEY — Monterey County officials are closing Lake San Antonio to visitors Wednesday and asking all campers to vacate following a mass fish dieoff that county staff first noticed last week.

KING CITY — King City’s Beautification Week is just around the corner, and residents and businesses are urged to pick a project to beautify the town.

The Giant Dipper roller coaster at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk turned 100 years old on May 17th, 2024. We celebrated by interviewing Jessie Durant, the Seaside Company's archivist about the history of the ride and the iconic boardwalk amusement …

On April 1, the City of Monterey sent out a press release stating its intent to turn the 135-acre Old Capitol site off Highway 1 into a dinosaur amusement park.