FEATURES:

  • Wildlife Refuge
  • Pollinator Garden
  • Two Playgrounds
  • Greenbelt Trails
  • Tennis Courts
  • Basketball Half Court (end of Chestnut St.)
  • BBQ Pits (end of Chestnut St.)
  • Access to Neary Lagoon via Floating Boardwalks

SURFACES:
Sand, Grass, Asphalt

RESTROOM:
Located at California St. & Bay St.  

DOG REGULATIONS:
No dogs allowed. 

PARKING:
Limited parking at California St. & Bay St.

NOTES:

Abundant wildlife viewing. Peaceful place for a walk. Interpretative signage and information available on site. No dogs allowed in wildlife refuge area.

Neary Lagoon is an important part of the urban watershed for the City of Santa Cruz. A drainage area of approximately 850 acres empties into the lagoon, and from there, out to the ocean. 

Public entrances to the Neary Lagoon Wildlife Refuge are located at the end of Chestnut Street, the end of Blackburn Street, and at the corner of Bay Street and California Street.

Wildlife inhabiting or visiting the refuge include mallard and wood ducks, pied billed grebes, a multitude of coots, the world's meanest geese, several varieties of fish and the occasional great blue heron or hawk.

A wooden pontoon walkway and trail system was recently added to the refuge, allowing a complete circuit around and through the refuge. The walk is under 1 mile, and is very popular with families with children.

It is also a significant shortcut for west side residents walking downtown, skirting the steep Laurel Street hill up to California Street.

Video of Neary Lagoon

Neary Lagoon Park
goats

Holiday Glow Guide and Contest

Inaugural Event!

  • Date: -
  • Introduction: We'd love for your home to be a part of our Holiday Decorations map listing. To be a part of the map listing, please submit a photograph of your decorations to be added as your location thumbnail and the location of your decorated home.
Greetings! With winter festivities around the corner, holiday lights are sure to ensue! To help the community know which decorations are up and available for viewing, please join us in enlisting your home as one of the local festive stops for lights, lawn decorations and anything festive that you would love to share with the community at large! We'd love for your home to be a part of our Holiday Decorations map listing. To be a part of the map listing, please submit a photograph of your decorations to be added as your location thumbnail and the location of your decorated home. Click Here to Register!
 If you have any additional information you would love to share regarding your home and decorations, please let us know in the additional comments section of the registration process. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to recreationevents@santacruzca.gov and in the subject line, please input, "ATTN: Holiday Glow Guide Map Listing".
Every entry will receive a $5 promo code to use when registering for a class activity offered by the Park and Recreation Classes Department. All entries will be entered in a contest for the best decoration. The winner will receive a $50 P&R Gift Card!
To be a part of the map listing, please submit a photograph of your decorations to be added as your location thumbnail and the location of your decorated home.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to recreationevents@santacruzca.gov and in the subject line, please input, "ATTN: Holiday Glow Guide Map Listing".

Every entry will receive a $5 promo code to use when registering for a class activity offered by the Park and Recreation Classes Department. All entries will be entered in a contest for the best decoration. The winner will receive a $50 P&R Gift Card!

Contest will take part of the Facebook Event.

 Glow Guide Banner

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