San Benito County Local News: Parks & Recreation


All Local Parks & Recreation News articles contributed by our local media allies and other local newsrooms.

Image caption: 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

How California’s 10 state conservancies buy up open land and shield it from developers to preserve the natural environment for public use.

Image caption: There are more than 300 community service districts in California.
Community Services Districts, Explained

Community service districts can do most anything a city government can do. Here’s how they work and how to start one.

California Local Pin Marker From Los Angeles Times...

05/15/2025
Because of a lack of availability of potable water and toilets, Yosemite National Park's High Sierra Camps won't be opened this year.

California Local Pin Marker From The Mercury News...

05/09/2025
An update on the reopening of Yosemite Park facilities and roads as the snow is cleared and spring takes hold.

Benito Link logo From Benito Link...

05/07/2025
Image for display with article titled Local Burning Man Event Returns to Bolado Park

For the third consecutive year, thousands of people gathered at Bolado Park for a regional Burning Man-affiliated event last week.An estimated 3,000 attendees participated in the 13th annual unSCruz 2025 Cosmic Odyssey, a three-day festival held May 1-3 by nonprofit Santa Cruz Burners.

California Local Pin Marker From The Mercury News...

04/30/2025
On April 29, the administration released rules for Yosemite Park Reservations in the coming months.

Benito Link logo From Benito Link...

04/24/2025
Image for display with article titled Community Action Days at SBC Historical Park

A coalition of local, state, and national groups is hosting a pollinator habitat planting community action volunteer event on Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3, (registration for the event is required).

Benito Link logo From Benito Link...

04/14/2025
Image for display with article titled County Supervisors Consider Renaming Hwy 25 ‘Pinnacles National Park Hwy’

The San Benito County Board of Supervisors brought back to life a discussion about changing the name of the county’s main artery, Highway 25, to Pinnacles National Park Highway.

California Local Pin Marker From National Park Service...

04/12/2025
Entrance is free to all National Parks on April 19 to kick off the annual National Parks Week this year from April 19-27. Get ready to get outdoors to celebrate America's Best Idea.

Benito Link logo From Benito Link...

04/09/2025
Image for display with article titled Celebrate (Belated) Community Garden Week at Vista Park Hill

Meet Robin Pollard, who has kept the Community Garden at Vista Park Hill open to the public since 1999.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

04/02/2025
Rural counties are some of the most reliant on federal funding and federal workers. But some still welcome Trump’s upcoming cuts to forestry and other departments

California Local Pin Marker From The Mercury News...

03/20/2025
A major rockslide has closed the Highway 140 entrance to Yosemite National Park. Read on for details.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

03/18/2025
Billions of state and federal dollars are spent on Lake Tahoe. But is all this attention actually protecting this unique treasure? Pollutants pour in, while development continues. Funding has shifted in focus to tourism and traffic projects, while money spent directly on fixing the lake has declined.

Benito Link logo From Benito Link...

02/11/2025
Image for display with article titled A New Chapter for Baler Aquatic Center Under YMCA Leadership

The YMCA of San Benito County is thrilled to announce its partnership with Hollister High School to manage the Baler Aquatic Center, expanding community access to high-quality swim programs and aquatic fitness opportunities. 

Benito Link logo From Benito Link...

02/04/2025
Image for display with article titled Pinnacles National Park Superintendent Retires

After almost four decades with the National Park Service (NPS), including the last five as superintendent at Pinnacles National Park, Blanca Stransky retired on Jan. 31.

Benito Link logo From Benito Link...

01/11/2025
Image for display with article titled Construction of Riverview Regional Park Begins in Fall

Construction of Riverview Regional Park, the 46-acre recreation zone planned for the area between the Hollister High School campus and the San Benito River, will begin this fall, a year later than originally expected.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

01/09/2025
State prisoners have long been a part of California’s firefighting force. Hundreds of them now are deployed in Los Angeles County.

Benito Link logo From Benito Link...

12/30/2024
Image for display with article titled Pinnacles National Park Hiring Habitat Restoration Crew Members

Pinnacles National Park and Conservation Legacy are hiring Habitat Restoration Crew members for the 2025 field season. Read on to learn more.

California Local Pin Marker From Monterey Herald...

12/23/2024
Learn about the bill introduced by Rep. Jimmy Panetta which would initiate the process to designate the communities neighboring the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary as a National Heritage Area, and what that would entail.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

11/18/2024
Image for display with article titled Crowdsourcing Plans for Resilience

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

Benito Link logo From Benito Link...

11/09/2024
Image for display with article titled Discovering Inspiration at Pinnacles

The morning of Oct. 25 was part of a familiar Friday routine for Christina Salvin and her English 1A students: meeting in the Nob Hill parking lot, grabbing a bite to eat and coordinating car rides. All of it was in preparation for one of their frequent hikes at Pinnacles National Park.

Benito Link logo From Benito Link...

11/07/2024
Image for display with article titled 5th Annual Moonlight Walk Coming Up!

An exciting but simple adventure- hiking on the de Anza Trail under moonlight- will be held on Saturday, Nov 16.