Bergin Park — Local services in Monterey

Not the newest of parks, but just like us d farts with kids, sometimes new doesn’t always equal better. This little park had personality and echoes children’s laughter from past generations. Could it use a fresh coat of paint? Sure. Will kids care? Nope.

Here is some history and facts about Bergin Park courtesy of GROK:

Bergin Park is a compact neighborhood green space in Seaside, California, located at 1150 Hilby Avenue, near the intersection with Maple Avenue in the heart of this coastal community of about 33,000 residents. Managed by the City of Seaside Parks and Recreation Department, it’s one of the city’s 22 neighborhood parks within its 86 acres of open space, offering a casual spot for locals to unwind amid Seaside’s military heritage and proximity to Monterey Bay. While not as expansive as regional gems like Laguna Grande Park, Bergin serves as a low-key retreat in a town shaped by its resort origins and Fort Ord legacy, providing shaded areas for picnics and play in a family-oriented setting.

(Pre-1880s): The land around Hilby Avenue was part of the traditional territory of the Rumsen Ohlone people, who sustained themselves on the Monterey Peninsula’s dunes, wetlands, and marine bounty for millennia. Spanish colonization in 1770 brought the Presidio of Monterey and Mission San Carlos Borromeo, converting the landscape to ranchos under Mexican rule by the 1820s. American acquisition in 1846 opened the area to settlers, with nearby dunes used for grazing and small farms.

(1880s–1940s): Seaside’s modern roots trace to 1887, when Dr. John L.D. Roberts, a New York physician, purchased 150 acres from his uncle (part of David Jacks’ vast holdings) and subdivided it into 1,000 lots as a shoreline resort extension of the luxurious Hotel Del Monte in Monterey. Marketed to affluent East Coast tourists, the area boomed with holiday homes, a post office (established 1891), hot springs, schools, churches, and a rail line. By the early 1900s, it shifted toward working-class families, earning its name “Seaside” for its dune-fringed beaches. In 1910, Roberts lobbied President Theodore Roosevelt to site Fort Ord—a cavalry post—on northern ranchlands, spurring growth. Bergin Park’s vicinity, in central Seaside, likely emerged from subdivided resort plots in the 1920s–1930s as the town formalized neighborhood amenities amid the Great Depression’s slowdown.

(1950s–1990s): Seaside incorporated in 1954, just as Fort Ord exploded into the West Coast’s largest Army training base during WWII, housing over 20,000 troops and drawing civilian workers. Housing shortages fueled rapid expansion, with parks like Bergin added or upgraded in the 1950s–1960s to serve growing families—part of a broader push for community spaces near the base. Named possibly after a local figure (historical records suggest ties to Seaside’s Irish-American pioneers or military families, though exact etymology is anecdotal), it became a staple for off-base recreation. The Vietnam era peaked Fort Ord’s influence, but base closure in 1994 (via BRAC) shifted Seaside toward tourism and education, with former lands repurposed into California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB, opened 1994) and Fort Ord National Monument trails.

(2000s–Present): Post-closure redevelopment revitalized Seaside, with Bergin benefiting from city investments in green spaces. The 2010s saw upgrades via the Parks & Recreation Master Plan (updated 2023), including accessibility improvements and native landscaping to combat erosion from coastal winds. As of 2025, it’s integrated into Seaside’s trail network, linking to the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail. Community groups like Friends of Seaside Parks (FOSPA) maintain it through volunteer cleanups, emphasizing sustainability amid climate challenges like sea-level rise. The park hosts casual events, tying into Seaside’s vibrant scene, including summer concerts at nearby Laguna Grande and the annual Seaside...

My wife and dogs sat on the bench in the play area and within 5 minutes immediately got stung by wasps that came out of nowhere. Two stung my wife and one stung my dog. We had to run away and pluck them out of my shepherds. Be careful when...

Toddler area is full of splintered wood and kids can't access the slide because there is just a sheet of wood to...