Santa Clara County Local News: Parks & Recreation

Mountain bikers and BMX riders of all ages are flocking to parks to practice their skills on purpose-built rollers and berms.

Calling all pickleball enthusiasts: the wait is over. The City of Morgan Hill this week announced the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for its new, state-of-the-art outdoor pickleball courts.

Here are a couple of kid-friendly hikes and gamified educational activities in the hills near Santa Cruz, just 45 minutes from Silicon Valley.

The debate between using artificial turf or natural grass on government-owned athletic fields in Sunnyvale has been pushed into the future, leaving environmental activists and youth sports groups in limbo.

Arvind Kumar and his husband Ashok Jethanandani spend their Saturday mornings pulling weeds and protecting plants native to California, but not in their yard at home. Instead, they’ve spent the last 20 years volunteering at Lake Cunningham Park in their East San Jose neighborhood — working to undo years of neglect and unsafe water.

Experiencing the sensory pleasures of California bay laurels, madrones, and of course redwoods, while running (and breathing) at this hidden gem in Los Gatos.

What's blooming in mid to late summer, and where you can find these flowers in the Santa Cruz Mountains region.

Explore the trails of Russian Ridge, enjoy a lunch at Alice’s Restaurant, and soak up the views from the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains while wine tasting at the Thomas Fogarty Winery.

With a multimillion-dollar funding infusion, Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve will become more accessible to those with disabilities through enhanced amenities.

Thousands of Morgan Hill residents braved the early evening heat Aug. 6 to attend National Night Out, an annual public safety event that aims to promote positive connections between law enforcement agencies and the community.

The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority this week celebrated an $800,000 federal allocation that will pay for accessibility improvements to a trail and other facilities at the Coyote Valley Open Space Preserve in Morgan Hill.

Title 1 schools have until August 18 to sign up for field trips, with guidance from State Parks staff and transportation funding provided.

Five places in the South Bay and Peninsula to keep cool by communing with nature wetly.

Dead, dry grass and tree stumps covering a corner of a popular Los Gatos neighborhood park will be transformed into a new grove thanks to a financial boost.

Five reasons to take the high-road into your favorite state park’s parking lot.

A sheltered beach and inland trail.

Sempervirens Fund launches a new Trails Prescription Program for the Santa Cruz Mountains. This program aligns with regional Parks Rx efforts and offers curated trail guides and health insights to enhance outdoor experiences and well-being in the region.

The City of Gilroy celebrated two milestones for its newest downtown popup park in the past week.