Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Parks and Recreation

You can assist Back to Natives at Santa Ana’s Santiago Park nursery

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

Come assist Back to Natives at our Nursery in Santa Ana’s lovely Santiago Park! We will be propagating and caring for native plants that will be used for habitat restoration or to help raise funds for our environmental education and habitat restoration programs.

Depending on what needs to be accomplished, you may be seeding, transplanting, weeding, watering, organizing, building displays, constructing a demonstration garden, etc. Bring gloves if you have them, or borrow ours. Wear sunscreen and a hat, bring a re-usable water bottle filled with water. CLOSED TOED SHOES ARE REQUIRED! Continue reading→

Dia del Niño event to be held at Birch Park this Sunday, 4/29

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

DÍA DEL NIÑO/DAY OF THE CHILD
Sunday, April 29 10:00 am – 5:00pm

Presented by: Arts Orange County and El Centro Cultural de Mexico
Time: 10am to 5pm; Admission / Entrada: Free
Birch Park 210 N. Birch St., Santa Ana

A day of free performances and participatory arts activities for all ages. Come honor youth and celebrate childhood through the arts! Un día de espectáculos gratuitos y actividades artísticas participativas para todas las edades. ¡Ven a rendirles homenaje a los jóvenes y a celebrar la infancia a través de las artes!

All are welcome to picnic in designated areas of the park. / Bienvenidos a todos para hacer un picnic en áreas designadas del parque. Continue reading→

Wells Fargo volunteers planting over 100 trees at Santiago Park today

Posted on by Posted in Banking, Business, Nature, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana, Volunteer 4 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media: Reginald Durant, Director of Restoration, Back To Natives Restoration, (949) 335-8655

More than 100 volunteers will gather tomorrow to plant 160 trees in honor of Earth Day and to mark Wells Fargo’s 160th anniversary

Santa Ana, Calif. (April 20, 2012) – Back to Natives Restoration today announced a $10,000 donation from Wells Fargo in support of the nonprofit’s efforts to preserve and restore Orange County and California’s wild lands through local education and restoration projects. The grant will be celebrated with the planting of 160 trees at Santiago Park in Santa Ana, Calif., in honor Earth Day and Wells Fargo’s milestone anniversary of 160 years of helping customers succeed financially and communities thrive. More than 100 Wells Fargo team members who are active members of the company’s local Volunteer Chapter, their friends and family, will participate in the effort. Continue reading→

Pacific Electric Right of Way meeting in Santa Ana on May 15

Posted on by Posted in Development, Entertainment, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana, Transportation 6 Comments

You are invited to attend an Open House to receive the most up-to-date information on the Pacific Electric Right-of-Way (PE ROW)/West Santa Ana Branch Corridor study.

Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) encourages you to become involved with the project planning by coming to learn about the evaluation results for the project alternatives. Ask questions, view displays and a presentation, and let us know what you think. Everyone is welcome! Content presented at each meeting will be identical.

TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2012, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center
1000 E. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, CA 92701 Continue reading→

Santa Ana and the SAUSD to partner in building the new Roosevelt Elem. Park

Posted on by Posted in Education, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Community: STATE OF CALIFORNIA OFFICE OF GRANTS AND SERVICES AWARDS THE CITY $5 MILLION FOR NEW JOINT USE PARK SITE

City’s Partnership with the Santa Ana Unified School District Played Pivotal Role in Receiving the Highest Grant Amount an Agency Can Receive

SANTA ANA, CA (March 29, 2012) – To address the need for more open space in the community, the City of Santa Ana has aggressively been seeking areas of opportunities to address this challenge. The City of Santa Ana and the Santa Ana Unified School District have been working cooperatively to provide recreational opportunities for the community through a Joint Use of City and School District properties. After a year of planning, an application to be considered to receive a Proposition 84 grant was submitted. The City was recently notified it was awarded the grant by the State of California Office of Grants and Local Services. The $5 million dollar grant was designated to develop a 2.7-acre park on the Roosevelt Elementary School site, located at 501 S. Halladay Street. Continue reading→

$9 million available to complete Santa Ana’s Santiago Creek bike trail

Posted on by Posted in Bicycles, Neighborhood Associations, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana, Transportation 8 Comments

The OCTA’s Bicycle Corridor Improvement (BCI) Program 2012 Call for Projects is a $9 million bicycle program available to local Orange County agencies. The guidelines and application are provided below. Eligible applicants must submit project proposals by 4:00 p.m. on April 30, 2012.

There is word on the street that a non-profit bike organization that supports bike trails in Orange County is going to file the necessary paperwork to complete the missing 1,500 foot section along Santiago Creek, in the Fisher Park/Floral Park neighborhoods and then turn the grant money over to the City of Santa Ana as a shovel ready deal! Continue reading→

One dollar admission to the S.A. Zoo from 4/16 to 4/29 due to construction

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

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: Santa Ana Zoo Walkway Replacement Project Brings Partial Zoo Closure

SANTA ANA, CA (March 21, 2012) – The Santa Ana Zoo is getting new walkways as part of a construction project in late April to replace all of the zoo’s old asphalt paths. As a result, a major portion of the zoo where most of the exotic animals and monkeys are exhibited will be closed from Monday, April 16, through Sunday, April 29. The front areas of the zoo not affected by the construction (the Crean Family Farm, the Exploration Outpost activity center, playground, gift shop, Knowlwood Café, maze, Zoofari Express train ride and the Conservation Carrousel) will remain open to the public during the construction project.  Continue reading→

12th Annual Cesar E. Chavez Holiday celebration set for 3/31 in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in california, Culture, Democratic Party, Entertainment, Jose Solorio, Labor, Latinos, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana 6 Comments

12th Annual Cesar E. Chavez State Holiday Celebration

Please join Assemblyman Jose Solorio, Santa Ana Councilmember Vince Sarmiento, SOLEVAR Executive Director Seferino Garcia, and community leaders to celebrate the life and legacy of Cesar E. Chavez.

The event will kickoff with a “¡Si Se Puede! – Yes We Can!” march and rally. There will be fun family activities, work in the “CommUnity Garden,” and an opportunity to hear Maria Elena Chavez, niece of Cesar Chavez, share some inspirational words. Continue reading→

Santa Ana child counselor/molester convicted

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Public Safety, Santa Ana 2 Comments

A counselor for a Fullerton children’s home was convicted this week of molesting three boys in his office while they used his phone to call their families living in other countries. Victor Salazar, 30, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury of four felony counts of lewd acts on a child between the ages of 14 and 15 and two misdemeanor counts of sexual battery. He faces a maximum sentence of seven years and eight months in state prison and lifetime sex offender registration, according to a press release from the Orange County District Attorney.

Between May 25, 2007, and Feb. 5, 2008, Salazar molested three boys between the ages of 15 and 16 and from South or Central America. While the boys were on the phone in his office, Salazar put his hands down their pants and fondled their penises, according to the OC Weekly. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Independence Day planning committee to meet on April 3

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

Community: PLANNING FOR 2012 INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION BEGINS

The Planning Committee is asking for Residents’ Input during the Upcoming Planning Meetings

SANTA ANA, CA (March 8, 2012) – On Tuesday, March 6, 2012, Councilmembers Bustamante and Benavides, City Staff, and community members attended the first planning meeting for this year’s Independence Day Celebration, to be held Sunday, July 1, 2012 at Centennial Park.  Continue reading→

Angel great Clyde Wright to speak at NESALL’s opening day on Saturday

Posted on by Posted in Baseball, Charities, Entertainment, Family, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana, Sports, Youth Activities Leave a comment

The Northeast Santa Ana Little League (NESALL) is hosting their Opening Day ceremonies this Saturday, March 3, starting at 8 am. President Dwayne Angebrandt will make a welcoming statement, which will be followed by a “parade of players,” and then the National Anthem, which will feature members of the Santa Ana High School ROTC, including their Color Guard.  Rev. Gus Lujan of the Christian Tabernacle will then perform the invocation.

Other Opening Day highlights include an appearance by former Angel great Clyde Wright, who will address parents and players.  Wright pitched for the California Angels (1966–73), Milwaukee Brewers (1974) and Texas Rangers (1975). He also pitched three seasons in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants (1976–78). He is the father of Jaret Wright. Continue reading→

Anti Santiago Creek bike trail NIMBYs caught on film!

Posted on by Posted in Bicycles, Nature, Neighborhood Associations, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana 7 Comments

The pathetic NIMBY’s who oppose completing the Santiago Creek bike trail have been caught on film and the results are hilarious.  What is not funny is their insistence on forcing bicyclists onto dangerous city streets instead of finishing the segment of the Santiago Creek bike trail that extends briefly through the Floral Park and Fisher Park portion of the creek.

Check out the video above and let us know what you think!  And click here to find out more about what you can do to help us finish the bike trail!

Hike O.C.’s Limestone Canyon today and see the O.C. Grand Canyon!

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

Reprinted from OC Trails

Once a month, OC Parks and the Irvine Ranch Land Conservancy open Limestone Canyon Wilderness Park up for a Wilderness Access Day. Most of the time, Limestone Canyon is only open for limited guided tours, which anyone can sign up for through the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks Activities page. However, during the Wilderness Access Day, you’ll have free reign around any of the trails in Limestone Canyon.

The main draw of Limestone Canyon is a geological feature called The Sinks. The Sinks is a large canyon carved into the soft limestone hills that has been called The Grand Canyon of Orange County. Unfortunately, people are not allowed to climb down into The Sinks, but are only allowed to look at it from above due to their delicate nature. Continue reading→

Santa Ana staff rejects Floral/Fisher Park NIMBYs’ demand to fence off trail

Posted on by Posted in Bicycles, Civic Affairs, Nature, Neighborhood Associations, Parks and Recreation, Paul Walters, Planning, Santa Ana 24 Comments

The Public Right of Way is 156 ft at its widest, runs 24 feet wide most of the length and the narrowest is 17 ft wide at Jack Fisher Park

The City of Santa Ana’s acting City Manager has made public a memo that is not good news for the Floral/Fisher Park NIMBY’s who want to fence off the unfinished Santiago Creek bike trail that runs through their neighborhood.  According to the memo, “Staff does not recommend fencing access to the area as it may result in other unintended consequences, such as creating a dead-end trail configuration and limiting access to the Police and Fire Departments, and will not be the most effective way of dealing with the issues raised by the neighbors.”

Here is the complete memo:

MEMORANDUM To: Paul Walters, Interim City Manager
Date: January 27, 2012
From: Mark Lawrence, Executive Assistant to the City Manager
Subject: OVERVIEW OF THE ISSUES RELATED TO A NEIGHBORHOOD REQUEST TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO THE FOOTPATH RUNNING BETWEEN JACK FISHER PARK AND THE CLASS I BICYCLE PATH THAT TERMINATES AT THE 5 FREEWAY Continue reading→

Great Park to host 2012 U.S. Dept. of Energy Solar Decathlon

Posted on by Posted in Energy, Federal Government, irvine, Orange County, Parks and Recreation 3 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JANUARY 26, 2012
CONTACT: TIM SHAW, 949-724-6258
Great Park Selected as Site of U.S. Department of Energy 2013 Solar Decathlon

IRVINE – The United States Department of Energy today announced that the Orange County Great Park has been selected as the site for the 2013 Solar Decathlon. With the award, the Great Park will work with the Department of Energy to stage the event and showcase energy-efficient housing and clean energy technologies. Continue reading→