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South Coast Park Drawing Lots Of Visitors Despite Pandemic

(Photo courtesy Eilings Park)

The South Coast is home to the largest privately funded park in America.

Santa Barbara’s Elings Park started as a dream by some residents in the 1960’s.  It was dedicated in 1985, and in the 1990’s more than doubled in size.  But, like many things during the pandemic, dealing with the virus has disrupted its operations.

The park off of Las Positas Road, on the west side of Santa Barbara, is open, but some actifities have been curtailed because of coronavirus safety concerns.  Park Executive Director Dean Noble says safety regulations mean that group sports events and onsite weddings have been suspended.

But, Noble says larger than normal number of people have been visting the park for passive activities like hiking and cycling.

The park’s new fall hours are in effect.  It’s open from 7 AM to 5 PM daily. 

More about Elings Park: elingspark.org

Lance Orozco has been News Director of KCLU since 2001, providing award-winning coverage of some of the biggest news events in the region, including the Thomas and Woolsey brush fires, the deadly Montecito debris flow, the Borderline Bar and Grill attack, and Ronald Reagan's funeral.