For History Buffs Only... City Parks...Rich Traditions
Monterey has a rich history of gardens and public open space. This tradition began with
the adobe gardens in the Mexican era and continues today with a multitude
of public parks and plantings throughout the City.
Here’s a bit of history on a few of the 200 park sites and open space areas that
the City maintains:
- Lake El Estero & vicinity parks: El Estero was
created in 1874 when the Monterey-Salinas Railroad closed a tidal opening to the ocean.
Inside El Estero Park sits world-famous Dennis the Menace playground – which opened
in 1956 – with unique playground equipment designed by the late cartoonist Hank
Ketcham and sculptor Arch Garner. Nearby on Franklin Street is Jacks Park, home to the
Bronco World Series, where baseball has been played since 1892. Baseball has been played
since 1909 in the City’s first park Peter J. Ferrante Park, once known as Little
League Park (located at Encina and Palo Verde avenues).
- Civic Center & up the hill: In Friendly Plaza,
next to Colton Hall at Pacific and Madison streets, the plantings date back to the early
1930s. Friendly Plaza is also the site of the City’s annual spring Cutting Day, held
for the last 46 years. Up the hill from Friendly Plaza is the entrance to Quarry Park, a
little-known 10-acre forested area near Via Gayuba and Via Del Pinar. The quarry provided
stone for the breakwater in Monterey Harbor. Today the park offers a serene walking path
and small waterfalls after a rain. At the top of the hill on Jefferson Streetis
Veteran’s Memorial Park and campground. The City acquired the park from Monterey
County in 1967.
- Coastline Parks: A unique series of parks spans three
miles of Monterey’s shoreline. These include San Carlos Beach Park near Cannery Row
and the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail purchased from the Southern Pacific Railroad in the
1970s. San Carlos Beach Park is host to picnics, events and scuba diving activities while
several thousand people use the Coastal/Recreation Trail each day.
Arts & Culture
"Shades of Monterey" Come to Life at Alvarado Gallery Photo Exhibit
Take a peek into Monterey’s past. Visit the current Shades of Monterey photo
exhibit featuring close to 100 photographs copied from the albums of Monterey area
families. The photos, which are part of the Monterey Public Library’s historic photo
archives, are on display at the Alvarado Gallery at the Monterey Conference Center through
Jan. 31.The images document a century of daily life. The exhibit is part of the
Library’s ongoing effort to gather and preserve photographs relevant to the history
of our community. Gallery hours are Monday - Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more info call
646.3949.
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