Blooming Community: Neighborhood Parks Team Makes Santa Cruz's City Hall Rose Garden Beautiful | |
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Each year, the neighborhood parks team is joined by local artist and rose aficionado Allan B. Allen to refresh the City Hall Rose Garden in advance of the three-month season of peak blooms. This year, our community will enjoy the gorgeous results of their efforts. Heartful thanks and kudos go to our dedicated volunteer Allan and the Neighborhood Parks team — Mike Godsy, Lori McCammon, Milton Rivera, and Erika Watson — for their work to put a shine on the rose garden.
"Coming into the spring season, we're clearing weeds and putting down wood chips in advance of the spring bloom. Hundreds of buds are getting ready to explode," says Mike Godsy, parks maintenance supervisor. "We have a very dedicated volunteer — Allan B. Allen — who helps us with both the City Hall rose garden and the Mission Plaza roses. Allan has true expertise with roses and has helped us over the past five years to make sure our plants are healthy and well cared for. His work helps us make the rose garden the highlight feature around City Hall."
The Monterey-Colonial Santa Cruz City Hall was once the garden estate of Frederick Augustus Hihn. The Hinh gardens were world-famous, containing rare plants from around the globe. It also boasted the world’s largest rose bush. After the City purchased the mansion from the Hihn heirs in 1920, the gardens became a public park. The current gardens at City Hall are a change from the famous gardens at the Hihn Home, yet the spirit of the lauded Hinh Gardens remains.
The Santa Cruz City Hall Gardens include over 300 species of botanicals, including rare and unusual plants. Located in downtown Santa Cruz, the gardens cover the block bounded by Chestnut, Church, Front, and Locust Streets. They are open to the public from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM and 30 minutes after public meetings.
Plan to visit the rose garden soon as we move into peak rose season. Be sure to also check out the monarch caterpillars currently on the milkweed plants adjacent to the roses.
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May is Bike Month!
Whether you want to join a bike challenge, walk and roll to school, or join a community ride, Bike Modo has a full month of bike fun starting on May 1, 2024. Use your bike to go to work, school, run errands, and commute around town. You can sign up for a bike repair event, go birding with your neighbors by bike, or learn how to become a bike commuting expert.
Safety first! Don't miss the E-Bike Safety Workshop on May 15, 2024.
Head to letsmodo.org/bikemonth to learn more and join your friends and neighbors on a 31-day mission to bike more and drive less.
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Celebrate National Trails Day with City Parks and Rec!
On June 1, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, come out, dig with us, and make new friends at the National Trails Day volunteer maintenance day. Park spaces bring incredible value to our everyday lives, contributing to the well-being of people, Santa Cruz, and the planet. Working together, we can make the most of these beautiful spaces. City Parks and Recreation supports our partners at Santa Cruz Trails in this annual family-friendly volunteer cleanup.
WHAT: National Trails Day includes trail work at 20+ locations throughout Santa Cruz County. Then, come together for an after-party at Woodhouse with free food and drinks, live music, and a huge raffle.
WHO: All are welcome. No prior trail work experience is required.
SIGN UP NOW: santacruztrails.org/ntd
EVENT DATE: Saturday, June 1, from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM. After-party runs from 2:00 – 5:00 PM.
WHERE: 20+ trail work locations across Santa Cruz County. The after-party will be held at Woodhouse Brewing & Blending
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Shout Out to Coastal Watershed Council and Downtown Streets Team for Being Stewards of the Levee!
Every Tuesday at 1:00 PM, members from the Downtown Streets Team gather on the Riverwalk between Soquel Avenue and Laurel Street for habitat restoration work along the San Lorenzo River Levee. Led by Coastal Watershed Council River Ecologist Kaiya Giuliano-Monroy and Parks & Recreation Commissioner Jane Mio, the team spends two hours removing weeds, clearing trash, and performing other activities to improve the health of native plants along the river.
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The City works with many regional partners, including the CWC, to maintain the levee for flood protection and ecological sustainability. Through regular maintenance and monitoring, we ensure the levee is structurally sound and capable of withstanding potential flood events. Additionally, we prioritize practices that preserve the river’s ecosystem to support biodiversity and community enjoyment. | |
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Discover Native Flora at Loch Lomond: A Guided Walk with Botanist Andy Werner - this Saturday!
Experience the natural wonders of Loch Lomond with our first Loch Walk of the season this Saturday, April 27, from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Local botanist Andy Werner will lead the walk, highlighting the rich tapestry of native plant species thriving in the Newell Creek watershed.
Attendance is limited to 25 people. While you can sign up at the park store on the day of the event, you can also make a reservation ahead of time by calling Loch Lomond at 831-335-7424. Entry fees to the park will be waived for walk attendees.
Did you know that Loch Lomond is a picturesque destination AND the City’s only drinking water reservoir? Managed by the Santa Cruz Water Department, it's a vital resource for our community. Join us for the Loch Walk and learn more about the importance of the reservoir.
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Expect Delays at the Resource Recovery Facility May 6–May 13
The City’s Resource Recovery Facility at 605 Dimeo Lane is undergoing upgrades to improve operations. Resurfacing work will take place around the Gate House Scales at the entrance beginning Monday, May 6, and is expected to be completed by Monday, May 13. Please expect delays when visiting the facility that week.
Anyone who needs their vehicle weighed during this time will have to back onto the scale. We ask that customers with trailers wait until construction is completed before coming to the Resource Recovery Facility.
If you have any questions, please contact the project manager, Leo Vargas, at (831) 420-5428 or lvargasvasquez@santacruzca.gov
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SCPD Partners to Make Community Healthier
Thank You to the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency for teaming up with the Santa Cruz Police Department at the local Farmer's Market to promote National Public Health Week. We've partnered in the message that public health is more than just health care — it is about ensuring communities are free from pollution and have access to safe food and water.
Part of our commitment involves prevention activities, enforcement, sharing resources, and education on the health risks associated with tobacco and vaping. If you're considering quitting, please get in touch with our partners at the Tobacco Education Coalition for resources and support.
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Friends of Parks and Recreation Awards $45,000 in Scholarships
Friends of Parks and Recreation awarded approximately $45,000 in scholarships to income-qualified families for summer camps, classes, and junior guards this season! Kudos and thanks to Hollie Locatelli, Lindsay Bass, and Santa Cruz City Schools for collaboration to make this impact possible.
Best of the Best
Shout out to DeLaveaga Golf Course, Santa Cruz Shakespeare, and Santa Cruz Symphony for being honored in this year's GoodTimes "Best Of" awards!
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Register for Summer Camps, Classes & More!
Parks and Recreation team members are ready to help you find the perfect ways to spend the summer! The 2024 Summer Activity Guide is now live, and summer registration is OPEN. We offer a wide range of recreational classes and activities for people of all ages and abilities.
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City of Santa Cruz
City Manager's Office
809 Center Street
Santa Cruz CA 95060
santacruzca.gov
831-420-5010
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