MID-MAY PARK ENEWS

Dad sick of ties? Stumped for the perfect graduation gift? Our ParkStore offers a wide variety of merchandise for the most discerning Dad or Grad!

Whether you order online or visit our ParkStore locations, you'll find a little (or a lot) of something for everyone.

Memberships are also a perfect gift that not only helps bring a smile to the face of your loved one, but helps support and protect our beautiful Santa Cruz State Parks! Click here to order online, or visit any of our ParkStore locations.

Order online by June 9th to ensure Father's Day delivery!

Please include the recipient's address if you would like the 15% discount card and one-day Day-Use Park Pass delivered directly to them.

(From Left to right) Jessica Kusz, Friends Castro Project Manager; Charlie Kieffer, Castro descendent and Friends Castro Committee Chair; Phil Duval, Friends Treasurer; Charlene Duval, Castro Committee member.
(Not pictured: Bill Wolcott, State Parks Supervising Ranger; Bonny Hawley, Friends Executive Director)
  The Castro Adobe in Larkin Valley has been honored with a special certificate by the Santa Cruz County Historic Resources Commission at its Landmark Awards Celebration, held May 3, 2014, at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History. The two-story Castro Adobe is one of only four remaining adobe buildings in Santa Cruz County and is considered to be one the finest examples of a rancho hacienda in the Monterey Bay area. Friends is leading a multi-year restoration effort to preserve and interpret the Castro and is partnering with California State Parks to open the adobe as a State Historic Park.

The Santa Cruz County Historic Resources Commission named California State Parks and Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks as award recipients for their work “preserving the history of the Mexican Rancho Period in Santa Cruz County.”

The Mexican Rancho Period in California spanned 1821 to 1848. The Castro Adobe was built between 1848-1850 by Juan Jose Castro, son of Jose Joaquin Castro, who was an original Juan Bautista de Anza expedition member. Later, Danish-born Hans Hansen purchased the Castro Adobe. Hansen completed many alterations to the building. Subsequent owners made changes as well, each acting as stewards of the historic adobe, including noted adobe conservationist Edna Kimbro and her husband Joe, who purchased the adobe in 1988. 

In 1989, the Loma Prieta Earthquake severely damaged the building, rendering it uninhabitable. The cocina north wall and the south wall of the main house were damaged and in need of reconstruction. The Kimbro’s advocacy for restoration of the building resulted in the sale of the property to California State Parks in 2002. In 2007, in partnership with State Parks, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks managed and funded the construction of 2,500 adobe bricks used for reconstruction and subsequent seismic stabilization. Friends undertook the restoration of the Castro Adobe in order to preserve and interpret for the public the only remaining building of the Rancho era in the Pajaro Valley.

Click the button below to help fund the restoration and preservation of the Castro Adobe.

By voting for us in the New Leaf Envirotoken Election, you are ensuring that the Santa Cruz State Parks and Beaches will receive an average of $800 per month in additional support from New Leaf Markets!

Every time you bring your reusable bag to the checkout of any New Leaf Market, they give you a ten cent token that you can place in the box of your favorite non-profit, who then receives that ten cents in the form of a donation from New Leaf Markets!

Click the links below to vote for us at each of the locations listed.
We need your vote before May 31st!
  THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

If you love Santa Cruz County Parks, there is a local initiative on the June 3rd ballot that is of interest to you. Click here for more information on Measure F.

The deadline to register to vote is May 19th and you can do it online by clicking here.

(Click for a larger version)

Show Your Park Pride at PRIDE!

  Once again we will be part of our community’s Gay Pride celebrations by participating in the Pride Parade on Sunday, June1. We will have our banner, signs and crowd give-aways. Come celebrate and show your State Park pride by marching with us in the parade! 

The first 10 people to sign up by May 22  will get a free “That’s My Park” high quality tee-shirt (a $20 value!).

Do you have any colorful things to loan us for decoration?

Our assigned staging area is beside Kianti’s Restaurant. Meet at 10:00am. The parade begins at 11:00am and ends where Pacific Avenue meets Front Street.

To sign up, please contact Event Coordinator Elizabeth Schilling at 831-239-6012; or email at Elizabeth@thatsmypark.org.

Click the buttons below to find out more exciting and fun events happening this month in your Santa Cruz County State Parks and Beaches.

(831) 429-1840
144 School St,
Santa Cruz,CA 95060
www.ThatsMyPark.org