Features
History,
Arts Make Monterey | Historic
Park Provides Place to Relax, Reflect
Cultural
Arts Programs Abound | Something
for Everyone |
Call
or visit a Center today
Walk
Around Town, Discover the Art of Monterey
History, Arts Make
Monterey
Everywhere you look in Monterey there are remnants of other times
and other lives. History is part of our daily routine: we do business and
work in historic buildings and stroll along historic walkways.
Recalling and enhancing our history and preserving the past continues
to be a priority for the City.
Recent and current projects focusing on
the historic aspects of Monterey include development of an Historic Master
Plan for the City (see Page 5), leasing and development of the Lower
Presidio as an Historic Park and purchase and preservation of Doc’s Lab on
Cannery Row.
In conjunction with the Robert Louis Stevenson Club of
Monterey, plans are afoot to emphasize the historical nature of Simoneau
Plaza through signage and possibly a sculpture. Also, we will begin
installing new ceramic markers in City sidewalks this winter directing
people along the Path of History. Information inscribed on the circular
markers will be printed in six languages. As part of the Sesquicentennial
commemorative activities, a copy of the State seal will be installed on
the Colton Hall walkway, accompanied by a series of plaques highlighting
important events in Monterey’s history.
Additionally, the City is
working cooperatively with various cultural and historical agencies to
promote cultural arts. Monterey’s General Plan frequently refers to using
cultural arts to enhance citizens’ lives. The plan characterizes the
community image as “drawing its charm from a rich historical background
...” Because of this, strengthening the visual beauty of Monterey –
through landscaping, attractive buildings and also through the
installation of public art – is a long-term goal of the City. We also
support cultural arts through an active grants program for local arts and
cultural agencies, which received a total of $31,000 for 20 projects this
year. Through these efforts and others we work to sustain the quality
of life enjoyed today.
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Historic Park
Provides Place to Relax, Reflect
Leasing of Lower Presidio ensures preservation of this important
site Lounge on the lawn of the Lower Presidio Historic Park and gaze out
over Monterey Bay. In the quiet, imagine the sights and sounds of the
past.
The murmur of unfamiliar tongues. Native Americans lived here
for millennia before Franciscan friar Junipero Serra performed Mass under
an oak tree on June 3, 1770. He and his military companion, Gaspar de
Portola, claimed California for the king of Spain.
Hear the voices of
Spanish and - later - Mexican soldiers keeping watch. In the 1790s, the
Spanish built a fortress, sometimes called “El Castillo” above Serra’s
landing site. Built to protect against invasion by sea, it failed.
Monterey fell to Argentinean privateer de Bouchard in 1818 and to American
naval officers twice, first to Commander Thomas Catesby ap Jones, then to
Commodore John Drake Sloat, who claimed California for the United States
in 1846.
Listen to the sound of hammering and the voices of New
Englanders. Soon after taking California from Mexico, American soldiers
erected Fort Mervine. Shortly thereafter, the U.S. Army abandoned the
fortified hill.
The reverberations of battle sound again. Early in the
20th century, the U.S. Army returned to the hill above Monterey and
established a new post, the Presidio of Monterey. Home to infantry,
cavalry and artillery battalions until World War II, it then became a
processing center for newly inducted soldiers. After World War II, the
Presidio embarked on its current mission – teaching foreign languages to
members of all military branches.
Today in the park, children play
while others reflect on its storied past. In 1996, the City leased the 26
acres of the Lower Presidio, which is open to the public. We plan to
develop an historical park to preserve this important site and to provide
a spectacular place where you can enjoy the natural beauties of the area,
both past and present.
Just imagine.
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Cultural Arts
Programs Abound
To help make local culture, both past and present, more accessible
and visible, the City helps fund local agencies’ cultural activities. Such
programs are greatly enhanced because of our cultural arts grants that are
awarded each year.
“From a coloring book on the historic sites of
Monterey to a mural of Lake El Estero, the City has supported a myriad of
Lyceum programs for over 20 years, ensuring that students have the
opportunity to discover the life-enhancing joy of creative
self-expression,” said Forbes Keaton, executive director of the Lyceum of
Monterey County.
This year is no exception. With an eye toward
California’s Sesquicentennial commemoration, grants were awarded to many
projects contributing to our local observance of the State’s 150th
anniversary.
Some of the programs funded include: the first annual
Monterey Cowboy Poetry Festival, focusing on the Californio vaquero; a
special Sesquicentennial performance of the historical debates of the
California Constitutional Convention; a traveling exhibition from the
Oakland Museum entitled “Gold Fever!”; and three free concerts by the
Monterey Bay Symphony.
In addition to the Sesquicentennial events,
grants also support ongoing musical, theatrical and educational programs.
These activities provide a glimpse into the past and the opportunity
to participate in the abundance of local culture.
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Something for
Everyone
Air hockey, bridge, pizza parties, tap dancing – you name it, our
Community Centers have it
Educational, exciting and just plain fun
activities await those who visit our Community Centers. Home to a wide
variety of recreation and leisure opportunities, programs are available
for all generations.
The City’s five Centers now offer four preschool
and three afterschool playground programs, serving more than 200 families
daily.
“The teachers are kind, generous and caring,” said Dan Kirby
whose child attends preschool at Hilltop Park. “The education is
unsurpassable.”
Students such as Emily Brown, 10, enjoy the activities
planned by afterschool staff. “I like playing outside with my friends. The
leaders are really nice; sometimes they even let us choose what we want to
do.”
The Centers also offer holiday programs for elementary students
during school breaks by providing supervised activities.
Most Centers
also have an area exclusively for teens where they can hang out and have
fun playing pool, Ping-Pong, air hockey and/or video games. In addition,
the Hilltop Park Center Teen Room will soon have three state-of-the-art
computers. Instructional programs tailored to teens are also available,
e.g. the Monterey Youth Center hosts “5th Quarter,” an activity that
follows Monterey High School Saturday home football games.
Additionally, the Monterey Senior Center offers activities for adults
and seniors. Along with exercise, dance and arts and crafts classes, the
Senior Center organizes trips through the “Golden 55” travel program; and
also offers a nutrition program.
For information about specific
classes and events, please see Page 6 and the current issue of the
Recreation and Community Services Department Activities Guide or call
646-3866.
Guides are published three times a year (summer, fall and
winter/spring). They are distributed in the Monterey County Herald and are
also available at our Centers. Or pick one up at the Recreation and
Community Services Department main office, 546 Dutra Street or the
Monterey Public Library.
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Call or visit a
Center today
| Monterey Youth Ctr, 777
Pearl St. |
•
646.3873 |
| Monterey Senior Ctr,
280 Dickman Ave. |
•
646.3878 |
| Archer Park Ctr, 542
Archer St. |
•
646.3870 |
| Hilltop Park Ctr, 871
Jessie St. |
• 646.3975 |
| Casanova Oak Knoll Park
Ctr, 735 Ramona Ave. |
•
646.5665 |
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Walk Around
Town, Discover the Art of Monterey
Outstanding art is in our own back yard. Pick up a Monterey “Art
Walk” brochure and discover the wide variety of public art that exists
within the City. Paintings, sculptures, photographs, stained glass, murals
and fiber arts (e.g., weaved cotton, linen or even silk designs) are all
part of this artistic program.
Last year the City commissioned a
brochure to highlight the public art that exists in our City. The
self-guided tour takes you through gardens, courtyards and parks; around
historic sites and into public buildings and hidden spaces. All venues are
open to the public free of charge at various times.
The brochure and
accompanying map are available at Colton Hall Museum, the City Clerk’s
Office, the Monterey Museum of Art, Monterey Historic Park, the Monterey
Public Library and the Monterey Visitors Center.
You will find art
where you least expect it. For more information call 646.5640.
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