Santa Cruz County Parks & Recreation Articles

By Mary Andersen Debate is in full swing over a proposed pump track in Felton Covered Bridge Park. The proposal, shepherded by Santa Cruz Mountains Trails Stewardship (SCMTS), Santa Cruz County Parks Department, and County Park Friends, calls for a …

Measure R sales tax hike brings in new money.

On Monday morning, as I wound my way up Highway 9 from Santa Cruz to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Ralph Nader was discussing—on KSQD 90.7 FM’s airwaves—how the notorious drug Thalidomide has returned to the market in a new …

UCSC Film students among them With the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild on strike, Hollywood has shut down. As workers demand fair compensation and regulation over the use of artificial intelligence, college students hoping to break …

Pam Marino of Monterey County Weekly reports that the city government there is grappling with a unique problem: How to provide access to the places that make Monterey “the most historic city in California.”

Capitola latest city in Santa Cruz County with plans to make its park universally accessible, accommodating children of all abilities

Ideas floated for traffic, armor and bike path ahead of fall city council decisions.

By Mary Andersen AmeriCorps teams can be found at various county parks through April working on native plant growth, park restoration, and ocean conservation. They’ve also been engaged in disaster relief due to the recent storms. While here, the team …

Harry and Maude Owen – Quail Hollow Ranch 1957 to 1974  By Richard James and Jim Bahn In November of 1957, Hayward, California rancher Harry Owen and his wife, Maude, purchased Quail Hollow Ranch from Sunset Magazine owner Larry Lane. …

Many came out on Saturday to clean the beach and say goodbye to the beloved wharf that once led to the Cement Ship

Staff and volunteers have organized a cleanup at Seacliff State Beach from noon to 2 p.m. on Feb. 18.

The large concrete expanse is a playground for all vehicles with wheels

Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship and volunteers discuss what it takes to build and maintain local trails in the face of fires and floods

The Nature Connection Campaign funds will go to building an animal crossing and land protection

A portion of the public trail system at the San Vicente Redwoods Preserve opened on December 3. The Preserve is a collaborative effort between a dedicated network of land preservation groups and the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band — also called …

If you’ve visited the new trails at San Vicente Redwoods or witnessed the rebuilding of Big Basin’s accessibility, you have the good people with Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship (SCMTS) to thank.  Founded in 1997, and initially known as the …

By Julie Horner Outdoor enthusiasts eager to explore fresh territory can look forward to setting boots down on 7.3 miles of ecologically integrated trail in the 8,852-acre San Vicente Redwoods Preserve starting on December 3, 2022. This new multi-use trail …

Plus: Free holiday parking starts.

AROMAS—Two decades ago, a fundraising drive was held to install dedication bricks at Aromas Community Park. However, even after a number of community members had already donated to the effort, the project came to an abrupt halt. “It was kind …

North Coast land offers wildlife viewing, hiking and cycling