Parks & Recreation Image

Monterey County Parks & Recreation Digest



Del Rey Oaks Segment of FORTAG Construction Begins

08/21/2024

Construction of the 1.5 mile Canyon Del Rey segment of the Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway has begun.

Marina Making Plans for Locke Paddon Park

07/19/2024

The City of Marina is working with the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District on plans for improvements to the 17-acre Locke Paddon Park.

‘Nothing Will Be Protected’ — Why California Environmentalists Oppose a ‘Green’ Energy Bill

07/02/2024

Nearly every major environmental group in California opposes a bill that would modify the state’s signature environmental law to speed up upgrades to power lines. Supporters say it would help free the state from fossil fuels and make the grid more reliable, but opponents fear it would damage state parks.

FORTAG Construction to Begin Soon

07/01/2024

The first 1.5 mile segment of the FORTAG project is set to begin construction in Del Rey Oaks later in July.

YIMBYs Endorse California Forever

06/20/2024

On June 19, California YIMBY announced support for the California Forever project going to the Solano County ballot in November.

Great White Sharks Return to Santa Cruz

06/13/2024

Young Great White sharks are convening in the warm waters of Soquel Cove off Seacliff State Beach between Capitola and Rio Del Mar.

Big Sur Is Back

06/06/2024

Photos spotlight the beauty of the Big Sur community.

FORTAG Groundbreaking Ceremony Held

05/30/2024

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on May 29 celebrating the beginning of construction of the Del Ray Oaks segment of the Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway project.

Marina Allocates Funds to Improve Park Access

04/18/2024

In its April 16 meeting, the Marina City Council approved funding for improvements to beach and ocean access to the Fort Ord Dunes State Park.

Sand City Working to Expand Art Park

03/28/2024

Sand City is seeking to acquire property adjacent to Art Park as part of that space's visioning plan.

Ensen Community Park Project Begins

03/26/2024

The $15M Big Sur Land Trust project to build a six-acre park at Carr Lake in the center of Salinas has begun.

Laguna Seca Raceway Lawsuit Settled

03/22/2024

The Highway 68 Coalition suit against the County of Monterey over operation of the Laguna Seca Raceway has been settled.

Seaside Awarded $1.6M Grant for Laguna Grande Park Trail Improvements

02/20/2024

In “a really big win for Seaside,” the city was awarded a $1.6 million recreational trails grant from the Federal Highway Administration's Recreation Trails grant program through California State Parks.

Cost Estimate for Pacific Grove Skatepark Over $130K

02/10/2024

The Pacific Grove City Council will hear the costs of building a temporary skatepark at the City Hall parking lot during the next council meeting.

California State Parks Recommends $6.7 Million in Grants for Local Recreational Trails

02/06/2024

California State Parks has recommended $6.7 million for seven local nonmotorized trail projects in various cities, including Galt and Gilroy.

Disneyland’s New Vision Includes Up to $2.5-billion Investment and Plan to Take Over City Streets

01/26/2024

Disneyland’s plan to reimagine the theme park into a more “immersive” experience may require up to $2.5 billion and a plan to privatize some Anaheim streets.

Huge San Jose Ranch May be Preserved as Parklands and Nature Habitat

01/22/2024

Richmond Ranch in south San Jose may be preserved as open space if multiple government entities succeed in a quest to buy its thousands of acres, public documents show.

Fourth Graders Might Lose Free Access to California State Parks

01/12/2024

California’s projected budget deficit of close to $38 billion likely means some cuts are coming. Among them, Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed ending the California State Park Adventure Pass, which offers free access to some state parks for fourth graders.

Yosemite Trying New Strategies to Reduce Food Packaging Waste

12/11/2023

An estimated 100,000 pizza boxes have been removed from Yosemite’s waste stream. This is because the famed park now serves pizza on trays and puts to-go portions in compostable bags, part of a move to reduce food-related waste.

Utility Increases Loom for 16 Million California Households

11/30/2023

Utility giant PG&E is set to raise its rates an average of 13% on Jan. 1. That equals an extra $32.50 a month, or $390 for the year.

BSLT, Esselen Tribe of Monterey County to Pursue Co-management of Basin Ranch

11/17/2023

After its acquisition of the 5,105-acre Basin Ranch, the Big Sur Land Trust is in pre-planning stages for its first co-management agreement with the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County.
The acquisition creates a new nature preserve that will protect a critical wildlife corridor for a variety of vulnerable species.

Natural Resources Agency Launches Plan to Increase Outdoor Access in California

11/15/2023

State and local leaders gathered in Los Angeles to celebrate a new plan that will increase access to the outdoors for all Californians, regardless of who they are or where they live.

How to Visit a California State Park for Free

11/12/2023

A pilot program that allows Californians to visit many state parks for free—after checking out a pass from their local library—is helping increase access for more people of color and lower-income residents, according to research from the California State Parks Foundation.

Beachside Trail Close to Finally Getting Built on Central Coast

11/07/2023

A beachside trail connecting the communities of Morro Bay and Cayucos could finally be built after 20 years. This happened after Chevron decided to sell land needed for the trail to be built.

What a Theme Park Giant Merger Means for California

11/05/2023

Two theme park giants, Six Flags and Cedar Fair, announced they are merging. It could have potential impacts on California theme parks like Six Flags Magic Mountain, Knott’s Berry Farm and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.

Two Disneyland Voices Are Moving On

10/27/2023

Camille Dixon, the announcer for Disney California Adventure, and her husband, Bill Rogers, the voice of Disneyland, are moving on from this work. They have been at the parks for more than 40 years combined.

California State Parks and Partners Launch ‘Arts in California Parks’ Program

10/26/2023

Through this new program, artists, culture bearers, and California Native American tribes will be eligible to receive funding to create artwork throughout state and local parks.

Vast Marine Sanctuary Proposed in Partnership with California Tribe

08/27/2023

The Biden administration is one step away from designating the first national marine sanctuary nominated by a tribe. Tribal members of the Chumash, who have lobbied for the creation of this Central Coast preserve for more than a decade, would be involved in managing it.

Chumash Tribe’s Vision for a Marine Sanctuary Could be Coming True

08/13/2023

Some 7,000 square miles of ocean on California’s Central Coast could soon become the largest national marine sanctuary in the continental U.S. It could also make history as one of the first federal sanctuaries to be spearheaded by a Native American tribe.

Frog Pond Wetland Preserve in Del Rey Oaks Sees Weed Abatement, Fuels Reduction

08/07/2023

A corridor was created to help prevent the advancement of a blaze in the event of a wildfire into the neighboring property or across the trail.

California Coastal Commission Focuses on Beach Access for All

07/07/2023

Access to the coast for underserved communities has become a greater focus for the state's Coastal Commission, which has used its regulatory and funding options to help support efforts.

California Legislature Passes Joshua Tree Protection Law

06/28/2023

California lawmakers passed the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act, permanently protecting the iconic and imperiled species.

Featured

There are more than 300 community service districts in California.
Community Services Districts, Explained
Areas that the county overlooks can form their own local governments.
The Baldwin Hills area in South Los Angeles is one region where a state conservancy would keep open land accessible to the public.
California’s 10 State Conservancies: How They Protect Parks and Open Land
Starting in 1976, the legislature began creating agencies to buy up open land, and keep it open.
Join Us Today!