Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Parks and Recreation

Time to clean up and improve our Santa Ana parks!

Posted on by Posted in Art Pedroza, Cecilia Iglesias, Civic Affairs, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana 6 Comments

Bathroom at Jerome Park

I was disappointed by the results of my school board campaign however when one door closes another one opens up. My good friend Ceci Iglesias was elected to the Santa Ana City Council, after withstanding withering attacks and she is going to appoint me as her representative on the Board of Santa Ana Parks and Recreation.

As my readers know I have been very frustrated by the conditions of our parks here in Santa Ana. They are not safe for our kids and families any more. Drugged out vagrants have taken over, the park bathrooms are disgusting, the lights often don’t work, etc.  Continue reading→

We need to save the green space at the Willowick golf course from needless development

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Development, Garden Grove, Parks and Recreation, Planning, Santa Ana 1 Comment

I recently attended a Willowick Golf Course Visioning meeting, at Spurgeon Intermediate. It only took me a few minutes to realize it was a total farce.

The Willowick Golf Course site, located in the City of Santa Ana, California, is a greenfield site situated on
5th Street, adjacent to the Santa Ana River, at 3017 W 5th Street. The property, which consists of eight separate parcels totaling approximately 102 acres,  is owned by the City of Garden Grove. It currently operates as an 18-hole golf course, and is located two miles from the State Route 22 Freeway and four miles from the Interstate 5 Freeway. The site is adjacent to the Santa Ana River on the east, and the Pacific Electric (PE) Right-of-Way on the north, and abuts Garden Grove’s Buena Clinton neighborhood, a multifamily residentially zoned neighborhood with multiple two-story apartment buildings and the Willowick Royal Mobile Home Park. To the east across the Santa Ana River, is Spurgeon Intermediate School and Spurgeon Park. Directly to the south, is Cesar Chavez Campesino Park. Continue reading→

Supervisor Do unveiled the new LED lights at the Santa Ana Bikeway on Tuesday evening

Posted on by Posted in Andrew Do, Bicycles, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Supervisor Do at the new Jerome Park Bike Trail

Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do unveiled the new LED/solar powered lights along the Santa Ana Gardens Bikeway, next to Jerome Park, on Tuesday evening, Oct. 23.

This project made the area traversable by foot or by bicycle. This area used to be unpaved and was locked to the public. Now one can see entire families biking along the trail. Continue reading→

Celebrate Halloween at the OC and Santa Ana Zoos

Posted on by Posted in irvine, Nature, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana, Santa Ana Zoo Leave a comment

The County of Orange and OC Parks are pleased to present the annual Halloween Zoo-tacular at the OC Zoo located inside Irvine Regional Park on Saturday, October 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Activities include trick-or-treating*, spooky kids crafts, a scavenger hunt*, and fun games! (*children ages 12 & under). Continue reading→

Free DTSA 5K Run and Health Resource Fair set for Oct. 20

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana, Sports Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: Get Fit with the Santa Ana Community at the DTSA 5K/Ponte en Forma con la comunidad Santa Ana en la Carrera DTSA 5K

SANTA ANA – Join us for the fifth annual Downtown Santa Ana (DTSA) 5K Run! This FREE event will take place on Saturday, October 20, 2018 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. beginning on Main and Fourth Street.

Test your endurance and speed as you pass by Santa Ana historical landmarks including the Orange County Courthouse, Eddie West Stadium and Old City Hall. First, second and third place winners in both the men and women’s divisions will receive a custom plaque and all participants will receive a custom medal to commemorate the event. Post – race refreshments and healthy snacks will be provided to race participants. Continue reading→

Learn how to garden at upcoming Santa Ana Community Garden Work Day events

Posted on by Posted in Food, Nature, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Santa Ana Community Garden Program is hosting a series of Garden Work Day events. They could use help in the process of transitioning their larger community gardens from summer to fall!

Any and all residents interested in learning about seasonal crop rotation are invited to participate and learn from their staff and each other. Gardening activities include clearing out seasonal plants, turning existing compost, adding fresh compost, collecting seeds, planting seeds and transplanting seedlings.

Events are set on: Continue reading→

El Salvador Park is hosting free Summer Night Lights activities for youth and families through August 10

Posted on by Posted in Arts and Culture, Entertainment, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Community: Summer Night Lights Now Open Evenings for Youth & Families /El Programa Summer Night Lights Para Jóvenes y Familias

SANTA ANA – The City of Santa Ana in partnership with Neutral Ground welcomes community members to participate in the Summer Night Lights program. The Summer Night Lights Program is a pilot program designed to provide recreational activities for youth and families during the summer season at El Salvador Park.

The program keeps the community center’s recreational outdoor space at El Salvador Park open and programmed with activities on an extended schedule from 7:00 pm-10 pm each Thursday and Friday beginning July 12th through August 10th, 2018. Continue reading→

Chepa’s Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony set for May 1

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City of Santa Ana

Community: Chepa’s Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony – Ceremonia de Inauguración en el Parque Chepa

Join us to celebrate the opening of a new playground at Chepa’s Park. The public is invited to participate in the Ribbon Cutting ceremony in celebration of the new Playground at Chepa’s Park located at 1009 N. Custer in Santa Ana. The ceremony will take place on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 4:00 p.m. at Chepa’s Park.

The new playground at Chepa’s park is one of the three sites selected to receive a State-Wide Healthy Play Training & Funding Initiative grant in CPRS’ Region 10. Chepa’s Park is a 17,600 square feet community park surrounded by apartment complexes and multi-unit homes. With over seventy-eight percent of the immediate surrounding population considered low income, this community is economically challenged with a large youth population and higher than normal levels of unemployment and homelessness. Continue reading→

Pacific Electric Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony set for Jan. 20

Posted on by Posted in Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: Pacific Electric Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony – Ceremonia de Inauguración del Parque Pacific Electric – 1/20/18

The dream of a new park in a much needed area in Santa Ana is now a reality. The public is invited to participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Pacific Electric Park located on the corner of Orange and McFadden Ave. The ceremony will take place Saturday, January 20, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. at the new park. Continue reading→

The County of Orange will close a portion of the Santa Ana River Trail for a project

Posted on by Posted in homeless, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Public Safety, public works, Santa Ana Leave a comment

County To Temporarily Close Portion of Santa Ana River Trail for Project, Actively Enforce Public Access Hours

Beginning Monday, January 22, 2018, the County of Orange will temporarily close a portion of the Santa Ana River Trail (SART) from Memory Lane in Orange to Taft Avenue/Ball Road in Anaheim for an environmental remediation project. Upon completion of the project, estimated to last up to three months, the County will reopen the closed portion of the SART for recreational trail use during posted public access hours. Continue reading→

OC Summer Freedom Festival set for Aug. 11-13 at Mile Square Regional Park

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Family, music, Orange County, Parks and Recreation Leave a comment

The County of Orange and OC Parks proudly present “The Summer Freedom Festival” at Mile Square Park, at 16801 Euclid St, Fountain Valley, on a 3 day weekend, August 11th, 12th & 13th, 2017.

Please come join us for food & drinks, daily raffles, carnival rides, a beer garden, and live entertainment, featuring the “Sound of OC Music Competition.” Entrance to the Summer Freedom Festival is FREE, so bring your Family and Friends to Mile Square Park and enjoy summer with us! Continue reading→

$1 M grant award for Santa Anita Park Field will help nearly double play time

Posted on by Posted in Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana, Soccer, Sports Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Community: $1 Million Grant Award for Santa Anita Park Field Will Help Nearly Double Play Time / Parque Santa Anita Recibe $1 Millón de Dólares

The City of Santa Ana’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Agency is the proud recipient of the State of California Youth Soccer and Recreation Development Program’s grant. The City of Santa Ana was awarded $1 million for the renovation of the Santa Anita Park Field. Plans are in the works to secure $2.5 million in matching funds for the completion of the project in fiscal year 2018-19.

The California Youth Soccer and Recreation Development Program awards grants on a competitive basis to fund new sports opportunities in heavily populated, low-income urban areas. Newly received grant monies will go towards the replacement of the current natural turf field with the installation of a synthetic turf field at Santa Anita Park. Continue reading→

There is plenty to do at the Santa Ana Zoo this summer

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Nature, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: It’s All Happening at the Santa Ana Zoo This Summer

SANTA ANA, CA – Visit the Santa Ana Zoo at Prentice Park this summer for some “wild” times with family and friends! The Zoo is an urban oasis, providing a cool and relaxing getaway right in the heart of Orange County. Many events and activities are planned for this summer with some exciting developments in the works.

• SUNSET AT THE ZOO EVENING CONCERTS: Sunday June 11, Sunday June 25, Sunday July 9, and Sunday July 23, 2017; 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Friends of Santa Ana Zoo hosts this after-hour’s concert series, featuring live music, art by local artisans, zoo animals, Train & Carousel rides, and offers an exclusive craft beer tasting experience for adults 21 and over to help raise funds to help the Zoo. Guests are welcome to bring a picnic dinner, blanket, family & friends, enjoy the concerts, and wander around the Zoo after it is closed to the public. Admission is $16.95 per person ages 3 & up, and just $8.95 for FOSAZ Members. Children under 3 are free. Continue reading→

Five Santa Ana juveniles were found passed out at Logan Park this afternoon

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Five Santa Ana juveniles found out this afternoon that drinking too much alcohol can lead to passing out, as they were discovered unconscious by SAPD police officers at Logan Park at 1009 N. Custer Street, in Santa Ana, according to the O.C. Register.

Fortunately the five juveniles were breathing when they were found. They were all taken to local hospitals. The SAPD did not reveal their names and likely will not do so as they are minors. Continue reading→

Raitt/Myrtle community outreach meeting set for May 23

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Community: Raitt/Myrtle Community Outreach Meeting / Junta de Enlace Comunitario Raitt/Myrtle

SANTA ANA – Area residents and the general public are invited to participate in the upcoming community outreach meeting on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. at El Salvador Center –  1825 W Civic Center Drive, Santa Ana, CA 92703. This meeting is being hosted by the City in an effort to inform the public of the procurement of the parcel in the area of Raitt and Myrtle to develop a community park.

Topics to be covered include a brief history of the area, a presentation and solicitation of feedback, and park conceptual plan discussion. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, please contact Community Services Supervisor William Sandoval at (714) 571-4258 or wsandoval@santa-ana.org. Continue reading→