Parks and Beaches

Boogie Boarders enjoying Monterey State Beach Boogie Boarders enjoying Monterey State Beach

NEW Virtual Recreation Center

A Special Message from Monterey Recreation about Summer Programs

SEE LIST OF CLOSURES FOR MORE INFORMATION

Veteran’s Memorial Park Campground is Temporarily Closed
To comply with State and Monterey County public health officials order to contain the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the City has taken precautionary measures and temporarily closed Veteran’s Memorial Park Campground. The playground area within the park is also temporarily closed, but other non-campground areas of the park, including trails, remain open. Visitors are reminded to practice social distancing and maintain at least six feet between other visitors and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Restrooms also remain open, and visitors are advised to use soap for hand washing and alcohol-based hand sanitizers when water is not available.

We are dedicated to keeping our facilities clean and have increased sanitary efforts.

Closed Sign
Closed Sign

Parks Make Life BetterThe City of Monterey has some of the most beautiful and diverse parks and beaches in the world. From sandy or rocky shores, wetlands, pine forests to unique playgrounds, Monterey's open spaces provide a wealth of recreation and leisure activities. Many of Monterey’s 37 parks feature barbeque grills, sports fields, playground equipment and other amenities.

Browse our directory of parks and beaches to research locations, activities, reservation information, and amenities. Whether you want to surf, camp, dive, sail, hike, kayak or bike, our parks and beaches will provide fun and incredible scenery for the entire family.

The Parks & Beaches section of the Maintenance Division maintains 35 parks and more than 200 other sites. We are responsible for overnight camping; beach and park maintenance; wood chip delivery; memorial benches/trees; cemetery services; RV storage facility; annual Cutting Day; and our volunteer gardener program. Find out more below. Report problems, make service requests

The Parks & Beaches section of the Maintenance Division is responsible for:

Parks, Beaches, and Greenbelts Maintenance
We develop and implement ongoing maintenance programs for the City park system. We maintain and repair all irrigation systems; respond to citizens' and visitors' questions and suggestions and provide information on public use of beaches and parks; and respond to reports of sick or dead animals. Forty campsites are available at Veteran's Memorial Park.
 

Special Programs, including Volunteers in Parks
We supervise the Volunteer Gardener Program, which meets weekly on Tuesdays from 9 am to noon to supervise community volunteers who work at various sites throughout the City's extensive park system.

Volunteers in Parks

No special skills necessary except a capacity for enjoying the outdoors. Tools and materials are provided. Please call the Parks Division at 646-3860 for location information.

We maintain and coordinate the City's Annual cutting day plant exchange (plant cuttings and tree seedlings); maintain the City's annual Christmas tree recycling and chipping program; offer a free wood chip delivery program (when available, the Parks Division will deliver a supply of wood chips to your driveway); and offer a memorial bench and tree planting program that provides citizens the opportunity to publicly memorialize loved ones.

Cemetery
We offer gravesites, cremain sites (half-graves), columbarium niches and burial services. We also coordinate the installation of headstones and perform general cemetery maintenance. A new lakeside columbarium and burial section is now available. Visit the Cementerio El Encinal web pages

RV Storage Facility
This popular facility at Ryan Ranch is secured with a coded locked gate and motion detector lighting. Open to all Monterey Peninsula residents on a first-come, first-served basis - with priority given to Monterey residents - the lot is currently full. A waiting list has been established. More information

Address and Phone

Monterey Recreation Logo Monterey Recreation
546 Dutra Street
Monterey, CA 93940
Office: (831) 646-3866

Full Contact Listing

Parks & Beaches
Maintenance Division
23 Ryan Ranch Road
(831) 646-3860

Parks Hours

City parks are open to the public daily. Please remember that no one is allowed to remain in a City park after closing hours (between 10 PM and 6 AM).

Dennis The Menace Playground: Open daily 10 a.m. to dusk. Closed on non-holiday Tuesdays, Sept. - May.

Thank you for your help and cooperation in this matter.

Adopt-a-Trail Program

Organizations, businesses and individuals have another way to get involved in their community - participate in the Adopt-a-Trail program!

Online-fillable PDF - save a copy to your computer, complete and email this form to marcuzzo@monterey.org, mail it to 23 Ryan Ranch Road, Monterey CA 93940, or fax it to (831) 646-3946. If you have any questions, please call the Parks Division at (831) 646-3860.

Beaches

Monterey State Beach
This is the largest of Monterey's beaches. You can see lots of beach activities going on here, including body surfing, boogie boarding and surfing, picnicking and dog walking (leashed). Please make sure you know beach rules to ensure your safety.

Del Monte Beach
An extension of Monterey State Beach and offers the same amenities. Sometimes waves can be dangerous, so know what you are doing if you decide to enjoy the surf. No lifeguards are on duty.

San Carlos Beach
This beach is right next to the Monterey Bay Boatworks launch ramp, and is at the beginning of Cannery Row. This beach attracts recreational divers and is a favorite spot dive classes.

Several other beach access areas Along Cannery Row, several smaller beaches are accessible along this area, including McAbee Beach.