SUMMER 2018 mprpd.org Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District LET’S GO CELEBRATING 10 YEARS! OUTDOORS! Your adventure activities guide for all ages Preserving and Protecting Parks and Open Space AMessagefromtheGeneralManager Dear Friends, The greatest challenges sometimes create the greatest opportunities, resulting in the greatest outcomes. Such was the case when private land owners, the community, The Trust for Public Land, Santa Lucia Conservancy (SLC), Trout Unlimited, Welcome State of California, County of Monterey, Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District (MPRPD), and others combined their vision and work to create the Rancho Cañada unit of Palo Corona Regional Park from the former Rancho Cañada Golf Club. In April, The Trust for Public Land transferred ownership of the property to the residents and visitors of the Central Coast. SLC Executive Director Christy Fischer stated, “From the beginning, this project has been about a community coming together around a shared vision.” MPRPD’s acquisition of Rancho Cañada will facilitate one of the nation’s most significant environmental and cultural resource restoration, preservation and conservation projects. “As this new parkland is restored to improve the health and future of our river, native plants and wildlife, I hope it will also be a place where visitors can learn about and celebrate the ways and wisdom of its first people. It is a great gift to us all.” - Linda Yamane, Rumsen Ohlone Tribal historian “The land had been in our family since the late 1800s. Protecting the land and preserving it for future generations is my family’s way of showing tribute to my great-grandfather, William Hatton. My siblings and I played along the Carmel River banks under the sycamore trees and cottonwoods, listening to the songbirds and watching the steelhead swimming downstream. It gives us great pleasure to know that future generations will enjoy and benefit from all this land has to offer them.” - Dryden Branson Bordin, Hatton family spokesperson “The reason the land remained an open space for the last 50 years is because my father, Nick Lombardo, believed recreational activities should be made available to everyone no matter what their race, religion, or economic status. My father entered agreements with three families, turning a gravel pit and an abandoned artichoke farm into two 18-hole golf courses, preserving open space and riparian habitat along the Carmel River for over a mile. My father would be pleased to see the property, to which he dedicated most of his life, being made available for all to enjoy in perpetuity.” - Tony Lombardo The Rancho Cañada unit will serve as the gateway to the magnificent 4,350-acre Palo Corona Regional Park. Formerly known as the Fish Ranch, this park was created several years ago through the combined efforts of the Big Sur Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy, and Craig McCaw. “Starting in 1928, the Fish family created a ranch out of many parcels, different Mexican land grants and sectional lands. In the 1950s, Stuyv Fish continued his parent’s dedication to stewardship and preservation, keeping the majestic Palo Corona intact for almost 70 years in the face of development. I did everything in my power to carry out Stuyv’s conservation wishes,” said his widow, Diana Fish. MPRPD’s Board of Directors, legal counsel, past and current volunteers, and staff recognize the significant benefits this property presents. We, along with the Lobos-Corona Parklands Project partners and many others, look forward to reestablishing wildlife corridors on this, and adjacent lands. Our vision is to enhance connectivity from the Carmel Valley to the Pacific Ocean, and Jacks Peak to the Santa Lucia Mountain Range. Doing so reintroduces threatened and endangered species to natural habitats; and provides environmental education and passive recreation opportunities that engage residents and visitors in a restored river valley – a valley that may one day look as it did generations ago. Thank you, together WE DID IT! Rafael Payan, PhD General Manager COVER: Rancho Cañada, a unit of Palo Corona Regional Park— photo by MPRPD Staff. 2 MPRPD Activities Summer 2018 Register now at mprpd.org What’s Inside Registration & Information 19TH ANNUAL 2 A MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER 3 REGISTRATION/INFORMATION Wildflower Show Garland Ranch Regional Park 4 GET TO KNOW YOUR MPRPD PARKS 6 YOUTH ADVENTURES See the largest display of summer 8 FAMILY DISCOVERIES wildflowers in the region. Explore the wide variety of seasonal 10 TEEN TO ADULT EXPLORATIONS flowers from Garland Park, Palo Corona, Frog Pond, and 11 GET OUT, GET HEALTHY Marina Dunes Preserve. 12 COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS Join us for Wildflower Displays 14 NATURE CAMPS and Guided Hikes 17 COMMUNITY ALIVE Sat., June 9 & 18 MPRPD PARK MAP Sun., June 10 ADVENTURE PLANNER 19 700 West Carmel Valley Road BACK OUT OF THIS WORLD! STARGAZING 10 am-4 pm COVER Free Admission To learn more call 831-659-6065 or visit mprpd.org. How to Register REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL PROGRAMS! Online|Go to our website at mprpd.org. Cancellations| MPRPD may cancel classes due to low registration, weather conditions or unforeseen Walk-in| Please call or email to schedule an circumstances. If you must cancel a class, please let appointment. MPRPD know via email, telephone, or in person Phone| Call 831-372-3196. atleastthreecalendardays prior to the class. Youcannotcancelregistrationonline. Email|[email protected] Reminders|Email reminders will be sent Opens 30 days prior to the activity Registration| approximately3-5days prior to the start of class. and closes at 5:30 pm the day before the activity. Important:Youmustregisterforallprograms Policies| No dogs allowed at activities unless unlessotherwisestated. otherwise indicated, except for service dogs. All policies are available online when you register. CachaguaCountryFair The Cachagua Country Fair is a fun-filled family day with live music, a horseshoe tournament, arts & crafts vendors, games, good food, drink and dancing! July 14, 2018 | 12 pm to 6 pm Cachagua Community Center Nason Road, Carmel Valley Registration required for all programs. MPRPD Activities Summer 2018 3 Get to Know Your MPRPD Parks NatureNightHike HikeEastGarzastothe Meet at dusk and venture into the park VisitorCenter for a 2 to 3-hour night hike. Switch off No loop trails on this hike! You will the flashlight, let your eyes adjust, and be shuttled to the trailhead at East use heightened senses while exploring Garzas Road for a beautiful hike your nocturnal side. Instructor: Rick along Garzas Creek, up to Mesa Pond, Berg, MPRPD Volunteer Naturalist. then down the Waterfall Trail to the Ages 12-Adult Visitor Center. Instructors: Matt and Saturday | Dusk Elneda Connors, MPRPD Volunteer May 26; Jun. 23; Jul. 14; Aug. 11; Naturalists. Sep. 15; Oct. 6 Ages 13-Adult Palo Corona Barn, Carmel Sunday, Jun. 23 | 9 am-12:30 pm Elevation change: 300-800 ft. Garland Park Parking Lot Distance 3-3.5 miles. Elevation change: Approx. 850 ft. Distance: Approx. 4.3 miles. Birdingat NEW RanchoCañada LesserKnownTrails NEW The Carmel River is a magnet Get to know some of the for vagrant and migratory bird species. beautiful but lesser traveled trails Each visit to this riparian habitat on this strenuous hike. Enjoy native Get to Know Your MPRPD Parks MPRPD Your Know to Get provides a fresh and varied avian plants, chaparral landscape, and Sky/Sage/MapleCanyonHike experience. Be one of the first to enjoy mountain views. Start the shade of Invigorate yourself on this mid-level our new Palo Corona location as you Garzas Creek, traverse along the east hike up Sky and Sage trails. On the bird along the river under a canopy of ridge of the park, then weave your way way you’ll take in the magnificent trees. This program is good for novice back to the trailhead. Instructors: bird’s-eye views of Mesa Pond. Make to experienced birders. Instructor: Rick Matt and Elneda Connors, MPRPD your way past the bay laurels, giant Berg, MPRPD Volunteer Naturalist. Volunteer Naturalists. ferns and wood mints that thrive in the shade of Maple Canyon Trail. Ages 12-Adult Ages 13-Adult Instructors: Mary Dainton and Cath Saturday | 9 am-11 am Sunday, Sep. 2 | 8:30 am-12:30 pm Farrant, MPRPD Volunteer Naturalists. Jul. 14; Sep. 15; Oct. 6 East Garzas Trailhead, Carmel Valley Palo Corona Discovery Center Elevation change: Approx. 1,500 ft. Ages 12-Adult Elevation change: Approx. 50 ft. Distance: Approx. 5 miles. Sunday, Oct. 7 | 10 am-1 pm Distance: .5-3.5 miles. Garland Park Visitor Center Elevation change: Approx. 800 ft. SoManyTrails! NEW Distance: Approx. 3.5 miles. LagunaGrandeBirdingWalk Enjoy beautiful views up and This birding refuge offers something down the Carmel Valley while new to see with every visit! Join other traversing eight different trails. On FabulousFernsand birders to view waterfowl, raptors, this excursion you’ll experience the Redwoods and seasonal migrants. From lakeside contrast of cool woodland forests and Gain an appreciation for the little to wetlands to riverine surroundings, dry chaparral landscapes. Be prepared things in life on this leisurely hike. Laguna Grande Park has many rich to make a quick detour to take in Experience the tranquility of Garzas habitats and a wide array of birds. This the vistas of Inspiration Point before Creek as you journey through a program is good for first-timers and heading back to the Visitor Center. beautiful redwood forest. Take in experienced birders. Instructor: Rick Instructors: Matt and Elneda Connors, the views along the way, including Berg, MPRPD Volunteer Naturalist. MPRPD Volunteer Naturalists. the Piñyon Peak Lookout Tower. Ages 12-Adult Ages 12-Adult Instructors: Mary Dainton and Cath Saturday | 9 am-11 am Saturday, Jul. 14 | 9 am-12 pm Farrant, MPRPD Volunteer Naturalists. May 26; Jun. 23; Aug.