Depot Park


Public Art Project "Before Now" by Carolyn Law

ADDRESS: 119 Center Street

HOURS OF OPERATION:
Park Hours - Sunrise to Sunset
Soccer Fields open 9:00am to Sunset unless reserved

AERIAL PHOTO OF DEPOT PARK

AVAILABLE FACILITIES:
Reserved Picnic / BBQ area - To Reserve
Plaza / Public art area - To Reserve
Playground equipment
Picnic tables
Reserved artificial turf soccer fields - To Reserve
Restrooms / Drinking fountains
Pay for use parking lots
Bicycle racks and
Bicycle storage lockers - To Reserve
Multimodal Transportation Historic Building

PARK PATHWAYS: Pedestrian pathways are provided throughout the facility and connect to the Beach area and Wharf access. Bicycles should be walked through the facility.

DOG REGULATIONS: Dogs must be on leash at all times in the park. Dogs are not allowed in the soccer fields. Owners must cleanup after their dogs. Dog bag stations are provided.

PARK PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES: Camping, littering, skateboarding or rollerblading, alcohol, glass containers. Fires and BBQs are prohibited except for the reservible Picnic area / BBQ. Amplified music by permit only. Excessive noise prohibited.

SOCCER FIELDS PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES: Bicycles, carts, and any other non-foot traffic. Alcohol, glass, plastic, sunflower seeds and gum, footwear with spikes, stakes. Dogs are prohibited.

PARKING ENTRANCES: Pay for use parking available on site at off Washington and Center Streets. Off street metered parking available along Washington and Center Streets.

Depot Park Photo Gallery Page

Highlights
Depot Park is a 7-acre multimodal / park facility opened in March 2005 and funded by grants by the State Coastal Conservancy and the Regional Transportation Agency. Located at the intersection of Center and Washington Streets and Pacific Avenue Extension, the park combines historic and environmental preservation with multi-modal transportation and recreation. Accessible by bike, rail or trails, Depot Park is within easy walking distanceof downtown shopping and restaurants, the beach area and wharf. Within the park are bicycle racks and bike lockers, restrooms, picnic tables and a beautiful plaza with a public art piece by artist Carolyn Law symbolizing the tule habitat of the Neary Lagoon Wildlife Refuge. The full-size artificial turf soccer field is state-of-the-art and can be divided into two smaller use soccer fields for shared play. It is open for general use and reservation play.

Phasing of the Depot Park Project
Planning for Depot Park and the multi-modal Transportation Center began almost a decade ago.
Phase 1 began about in 2004 and includes the following:

  • Open space and environmental restoration

  • Multi-modal transportation center, including bus, bicycle and pedestrian access

  • Reconstructed Freight Building which also includes the park restrooms

  • Public plaza area with extraordinary public art project

  • Multi-use field sized to accommodate a full soccer field or two smaller fields

  • Pedestrian and bicycle paths running the entire length of the park

  • Children's play area

  • Group and individual picnic areas

  • Two parking lots totaling 192 spaces

  • Intersection improvements at Pacific Avenue and Center Street

    Phase II will include the addition of the historical Down Works Building to be used as a Carriage Building and maintenance area and the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary Center to be located at the Fun Spot (corner of Pacific and Beach) and the new Museum of Natural History.

    In Phase III, the new Museum of Natural History will be constructed in the park.

    History of the Depot Park Project
    1996 - Beach Area and South of Laurel planning process identifies Depot site as location for major park and multi-modal station

    Fall 1996 - Initial meetings of Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (SSCRTC), City Planning staff and City Council members identifying the old railroad depot site and developing a funding strategy to acquire the depot as a major multi-modal facility connecting with the Santa Cruz branch line

    November 1997 - Public Works submits grant application to the SCCRTC

    October 1998 - Barry Swenson enters into a contract with Union Pacific to purchase property at the depot site

    November 1998 - Santa Cruz voters approve "Measure G" to "develop a community park with a sports field and children's playground in the South of Laurel area"

    January 1999 - SCCRTC awards a grant to the City of Santa Cruz for purchase of 4.2 acres at the Depot Site

    August 1999 - City of Santa Cruz purchases 4.2 acres from Barry Swenson with grant funds from the SCCRTC plus an additional 2 acres with City funds

    February 2000 - City Council establishes a 17-member Depot Site Task Force to work with the community to create a Master Plan for the project.

    May 2000 - City of Santa Cruz purchases one acre Lighthouse Liquors site

    July 2000 - VBN Architects of Oakland, California awarded contract by the City of Santa Cruz to provide consulting services for the project Master Plan

    January 2001 - One acre Fun Spot site purchased by the City of Santa Cruz

    June 2001 - City Council accepts the draft Master Plan and authorizes the preparation of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR)

    July 2002 - City Council certifies the EIR, approves the Master Plan and authorizes the City Manager to advertise for design services for the project

    October 2002 - State Coastal Conservancy with help form then State Assemblyman, Fred Keeley, awards a grant to the City of Santa Cruz in the amount of $3,000,000

    December 2002 - City Council approves Historic Preservation Commission and Depot Site Task Force recommendation to name the site "Depot Park "

    January 2003 - City enters into an agreement with Bellinger Foster Steinmetz Landscape Architects for design of the construction documents for the project

    June 2003 - City purchases the Feed and Grain Site with funds from the Coastal Conservancy

    July 2003 - City Council approves the construction documents and authorizes the project to be bid for construction services

    November 2003 - City Council awards the construction contract to Don Chapin Company

    January 9, 2004 - Groundbreaking Ceremony

    February 2004 - Construction begins

    March 12, 2005 - Grand Opening Celebration

    Fall, 2005 - Down Works Building renovated with Carriage and Maintenance Facilities

    Spring 2008 - Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary visitor center due to open

    Winter 2010 - New Museum of Natural History opens

    Report Website Problems ( Broken Links, Page Not Found, etc.)
    To: parksandrec@ci.santa-cruz.ca.us

    BACK TO TOP