Monterey County Parks & Recreation Digest

Mike Markkula, who bought Rana Creek Ranch 40 years ago, is selling the property to the Wildlands Conservancy. The 14,100-acre ranch will become a new public preserve and cultural site.

A stunning property once owned by rock singer Chris Isaak moved a big step closer to becoming a new public park—the first of its kind in more than 50 years—when the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve an $11.6 million construction contract to build amenities at Tunitas Creek Beach.

Access to popular spots on the southern Big Sur coast will be restored next week when Caltrans reopens a key stretch of Highway 1, just in time for Memorial Day holiday weekend travel.

“This is one of the biggest processed-based restoration projects in the state of California and will be the most significant restoration effort in the Park District's history,” said Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District Planning and Conservation Division Manager Jake Smith.

“That was so impressive tonight and to stifle that energy would be a real bummer, so I realize there's a process and I see the other side of it,” said Councilman Steve McShane. “I’ve been talked to by city staff on this subject, but we can't squash that energy, we really can’t. It would be a huge mistake.”

The first phase portion of the FORTAG trail that passes through Del Rey Oaks will be a new 1.5-mile segment.

In the largest land conservation act of his presidency so far, President Biden has established a new national monument in the Mojave Desert, protecting an area sacred to Native American tribes.

JLL will prepare a dozen regional strategic plans to help the state marketing organization promote smart, sustainable tourism over the next decade.

Pico Partners, an entity made up of the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County, Camp Krem Camping Unlimited, and the White Stag Leadership Development Academy have entered into an agreement.

Tthe wait for a safe trail crossing the Moss Landing harbor just got longer after Caltrans employees discovered a deteriorating retaining wall.

Avi Kwa Ame National Monument will protect sacred Native American sites, wildlife.

For the first time in three years, visitors won't need to book ahead to enter the park in 2023.

Seaside is seeking a qualified consultant to develop a plan for city parks. “A lot has changed since 2005, when the city last did a Parks and Recreation Master Plan,” said Seaside Recreation Director Dan Meewis. Creating the plan would involve city staff, advisory bodies, and members of the community.

The Del Rey Oaks City Council heard a presentation on the Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway project that on the coastal theme chosen for the segment that runs through the city.

After a contentious meeting, the Marina City Council voted 3-2 to approve a concessionaire agreement with Chaparral Country Corp. of Woodside to provide recreation facilities and public programs at the Marina Equestrian Center Park.

All over California, wildfires have ravaged iconic landscapes. Places that once seemed permanent are disappearing—and researchers are having to rethink how best to protect them.

Senate Bill 1012, a law that will require California State Parks to restrict open fires, has been unanimously passed through the Committee of Water, Parks, and Wildlife. The bill instructs parks to work with the guidelines of local fire departments. The bill could appear before the full assembly in August.

A ballot measure that would block a trail project through Del Rey Oaks is lagging in early returns with only 48.88% of the votes needed for passage. But the difference between passage of the measure and defeat is only 10 votes.

The Bureau of Land Management is issuing seasonal fire restrictions for lands managed by the Central Coast Field Office, which covers San Benito, Santa Cruz, Monterey and western Fresno counties. These restrictions are in addition to the year-round statewide fire prevention order.

Planning on Hilltop Park in Marina is underway as the Marina City Council has heard recommendations from its ad-hoc committee and given direction for the final design on the city park, to be located within The Dunes on Monterey Bay development.

The Bureau of Land Management is seeking nominations for positions on its California Desert District Advisory Council, Central California Resource Advisory Council, and Northern California District RAC.

On May 21, the city of Seaside will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Eucalyptus Road, providing greater access to the Fort Ord National Monument. The street is currently only accessible to cyclists and pedestrians and will be officially open to vehicles.

North Salinas residents could soon see major improvements in their neighborhood. The Salinas City Council has approved $8.1 million for a new recreational center in Laurel Park and will solicit feedback from citizens before work begins.

Measure B, a ballot measure opposing the 1.5-mile segment of the Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway project in Del Rey Oaks, is going before the city’s voters on June 7. If it wins, the measure could derail plans to connect the 28-mile bicycle and pedestrian project to the existing Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail.

With approval of $9.7 million in funding, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors have put crucial repairs on track for completion by the 2023 racing season at the famous WeatherTech Raceway at Laguna Seca.

Residents can now use their library cards to check out day passes for free access to more than 200 state parks. The move is part of a collaboration between California State Parks and the California State Library to provide more equitable outdoor access for all Californians.

The members of Carmel-by-the-Sea’s forest and beach commission are arguing that any new sitting areas should be based on the public’s need to sit down, not individuals’ need to memorialize loved ones.

In Pinnacles National Park, back in the mid-1980s, park-goers used to climb too close to nesting raptors, causing the birds to abandon their eggs. Park managers came up with a raptor monitoring program, which continues to protect the birds today.

The 2020 River Fire, which was sparked by a dry lightning storm near Mt. Toro, burned over 40,000 acres and destroyed 30 structures. But it also burned a lot of infrastructure—including cattle fences.

With the California Salinas Rodeo returning for the first time since 2019, more than 10,000 tickets were sold on opening day. After COVID-19 closures the Rodeo came back with local vendors and competition.

Los Padres National Forest reopens on Sept. 23 after a three-week closure put into effect to prevent human-caused wildfires in the forest during the peak of fire season.

Faced with overgrown vegetation and issues from persistent homeless encampments in Laguna Grande Park, the partners in the joint powers agency that manages the park—Monterey, Seaside, and the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District—are stepping up to pay for a trail maintenance strategy and environmental review.