The City of Watsonville, with Granite Construction, Inc., will begin construction of the Watsonville Slough Connector Trail at Ramsay Park on Monday, August 23. Construction is anticipated to occur through the end of February 2022.
Construction will take place throughout the Park for the duration of the project and is divided into two phases. The City and Granite Construction are committed to ensuring that park amenities remain accessible to the public to the greatest extent possible. Due to the nature of this project, some park amenities will be closed at certain points during construction. The following summarizes the anticipated closures and access information.
Phase 1 (August 23 – End of November)
- Closed: Parking lot on Harkins Slough Road side of Park and the Nature Center (Nature Center closed through mid-January)
- Park users may use the parking lot on the Main Street side of the Park to access all Park amenities, including the playgrounds, pump track, softball field and Soccer Central.
Phase 2 (December – February)
- Closed: Parking lot on Main Street side of Park and Ramsay Park Family Center
- Park users may use the parking lot on the Harkins Slough Road side of the Park to access all Park amenities, including the soccer field.
Timelines and closures of park amenities are subject to change. Please click here or contact the Parks and Community Services Department at 831.768.3240 for questions and the most up to date closure information.
The Watsonville Slough Connector Trail Project at Ramsay Park will establish and enhance urban trails within the park, resulting in improved non-motorized pathways through the park and to surrounding destinations in the community. The project will construct a connector trail between Main St. and Harkins Slough Road, construct new accessible pathways within the park that connect to the slough trail and mitigate urban heat island effects by planting trees. Other features of the project include habitat restoration and trail enhancement in Watsonville Slough next to the park, improved storm water retention areas within the park, interpretive signage, crosswalk / pedestrian improvements on Harkins Slough Road and the establishment of buffered bike lanes on Harkins Slough between Green Valley Rd and Ford St. This project is funded through a grant from the California Natural Resources Agency, Community Development Block Grant and the City of Watsonville.
This project is the second phase of the implementation of the Ramsay Park Master Plan, the first of which included the construction of the bicycle pump track. The City is currently working on design of future phases, including renovation of the soccer field and construction of a dog park (construction in 2023), an inclusive playground, multiuse sports field, new nature center and picnic areas.
The Urban Greening Program is part of California Climate Investments, a statewide program that puts billions of cap-and-trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy and improving public health and the environment—particularly in disadvantaged communities. The cap-and-trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution. California Climate Investment projects include affordable housing, renewable energy, public transportation, zero-emission vehicles, environmental restoration, more sustainable agriculture, recycling and much more. At least 35 percent of these investments are made in disadvantaged and low-income communities. For more information, click here.
For more information about this project and the Ramsay Park Master Plan, please visit www.watsonvillerec.com.