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Pretty huge park. My five year old had a blast.
Lots of stuff there, so I’m gonna pass along some factoids about the park:
Harvey West Park is a beloved 50-acre municipal park in Santa Cruz, California, often hailed as the city’s most comprehensive recreational space. 0 Nestled just off the intersection of Highways 1, 9, and 17, it’s easily accessible and serves as a hub for families, athletes, hikers, and community gatherings. With its mix of wooded trails, sports facilities, and open green spaces, it’s a go-to spot for outdoor fun in the heart of Santa Cruz.
The park was a generous gift to the City of Santa Cruz in 1955 from philanthropist Harvey West, a Soquel lumber businessman born in 1894.
West, whose father owned the Loma Prieta Lumber Company, expanded the park in 1958 by purchasing and donating Wagner Grove from Fred Wagner.
Free parking in a private lot, plus bike racks for easy access. It’s wheelchair-friendly in key areas, especially the Friendship Garden, with ramps and wide paths designed for people with disabilities.
Hours: Generally open from dawn to dusk; specific facilities like pools or clubhouses may have varied schedules.
Harvey West Park is packed with options for all ages and interests:
Playgrounds: Two dedicated areas—one for toddlers and one for older kids—with swings, slides, and climbing structures.
Sports Fields: Ball fields for baseball/softball (home to Santa Cruz Little League and Mid-County PONY Baseball), soccer fields, and open lawns perfect for Frisbee or football.
Swimming Pool: A community pool for laps and lessons (note: it’s been closed for maintenance in recent years, with locals hoping for a reopening).
Pump Track: A world-class bike pump track built in 2016 by the Santa Cruz Mountain Trail Stewards (SCMTS) in partnership with the city—featuring rollers, berms, and jumps. It’s a hit with mountain bikers and has revitalized a formerly underused area.
Picnic and BBQ Areas: Large group picnic spots with barbecue pits, tables, and clubhouses available for rent—ideal for birthdays or family reunions.
Trails: Over 3 miles of easy-to-moderate hiking and biking paths, including the Old Stage Trail (a historic route with gentle hills under redwood, oak, and madrone canopies) and the Harvey West Trail connecting to Pogonip Open
Space Preserve. 0 10 Note: No dogs on the Harvey West connector trail to Pogonip. 0 Popular loops like the Steeple Trail (3.7/5 stars on AllTrails) offer shaded walks with scenic views. 10
Friendship Garden: A serene, accessible garden with native plants, benches, and sensory features for quiet...
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Harvey west Park is by far my favorite park there is a swimming pool that gives lessons( for a fee of course) there are plenty of places to relax. Have party's birthday,weddings whatever The redwood trees are beautiful and Amazing. The grounds are taken care of Beautifully. The park maintenance is very kind..lots of drinking fountains..it's always green and the grass is full and lush. There are 3 baseball fields at Harvey West. They are very well taken care of as well. There are almost always games going on..lots of picnic areas and hiking trails. Good restrooms. Usually very clean. There are outdoor sinks to wash your dishes or whatever after a bbq or a party.Decent parking. It's almost always easy to find a place to park. There are two different play grounds , one for toddlers and one for bigger kids. They have day camps for kids there. There is Soo much more I could go on and on..but that's enough for now! Go check it out .. you'll be...
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The park is great but all the nimby homeowners who are too good for Safeway line up at Costco across the street. They pile up and act snobby while they demonstrate their class and prudence by blocking the street with Subarus and Toyotas and belittling anyone who uses the Park.
Instead of helping people by adding showers, RV tank dump, and water fill to the park. Trustafarians, yippies, and other hypocrites are turning their noses at working class and disabled folks using the park and living in motorhomes and vehicles outside it to survive while they fill their Mercedes "overlanders" at Costco and don't use the park themselves.
You can't barbecue or picnic without a reservation, but there are great workout machines and a good pump track, and plenty of parking most days. Lots of sniffables for dogs. There is a drum circle on the weekends and it's...
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