Harvey West Park offers many features and services to the public. With six ball fields, the familiar crack of the bat and the finality of "You're OUT!" can be heard almost every evening. The pool, which includes dressing rooms, a training pool and a wading pool, is great for lap swimming and a first swimming lesson. Plenty of barbecue pits and picnic areas make for lively family gatherings or relaxing, well-equipped picnics on any day. Kid's Kottage houses an excellent recreational preschool and summer day camp. The Clubhouse/Scouthouse is reservable for indoor activities.
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History
Harvey West Park was presented to the City of Santa Cruz by philanthropist Harvey West in 1955. Harvey West was born in Soquel in 1894. His Father, Ed West, was once a County supervisor, better known as the "Bull of the Woods" for his ownership of the Loma Prieta Lumber Company. Harvey worked for a time at F.A. Hihn's sawmill on Laurel Street, then in 1913 he went to work for Capitola Garage. He purchased the business in just four short years. On his return from World War I, Harvey transformed the garage business into one for hauling lumber. His success in the lumber business moved him to Calaveras County, then to El Dorado County where he started the Placerville Lumber Company in 1936.

Over the years, Harvey West made many contributions, both public and private, throughout the State of California. In 1955 he presented the City of Santa Cruz with the parcel of land we know as Harvey West Park and in 1958 he purchased Wagner Grove from Fred Wagner as an addition to the park.
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Friendship Garden
Friendship Garden is one of Harvey West Park's most unique features. Designed by landscape architect Edwin Wood, Friendship Garden was planned for the enjoyment of people with disabilities and the general public alike. Special care was taken with regards to wheelchair accessibility. Friendship Garden was sponsored by the Soroptimists of Santa Cruz with support from other community organizations and private businesses. It's one of Santa Cruz' special spots for a stroll or a quiet moment among the flowers.
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Evergreen Cemetery
Located adjacent to Harvey West Park is historic Evergreen Cemetery, one of the oldest Protestant grave sites in California. The first burial in 1850 was the infant Julia Arcan, child of Gold Rush pioneers who had crossed Death Valley. In 1858 the cemetery was officially established by a group of prominent pioneer citizens. The eight acre site was divided into 241 parcels which were all sold by the 1930s. A small extension was added in the 1940s and the additional plots were all sold by the 1950s.

In the 1920s, the plot owners formed the Evergreen Cemetery Association and hired a caretaker, but maintenance remained basic at best. In 1974 a new volunteer organization was formed, Help Evergreen Live Permanently (HELP). Then, in 1986 the ownership of Evergeen Cemetery was transferred to the Santa Cruz County Historical Trust, which now maintains the archives and grounds of Evergreen.

Walking through Evergreen is like taking a walk back through time. Don't forget to pay special attention to the trees and plants around the cemetery, many are indigenous (the Coast Redwoods, the California Bays, etc.) and quite a few trees and plants were imported and planted as memorials over a period of nearly 150 years (Japanese Cryptomeria, Arizona Cypress, Deodar Cedar native to the Himalayas, and Mock Orange).
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