8 months after it was forced to close Toro Park is set to re-open
Posted on 03/26/2021 6:31:17 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Eager visitors will soon be able to visit Toro Park, once the gates open in April. The popular Central Coast recreational facility is preparing to once again host outdoor enthusiast and family outings after the River Fire burnt through it last August. Since then, crews have had their hands full removing damaged trees and cleaning trails, while still carrying out the day to day operations. But their hard work is about to pay off.
Bryan Flores, Administrative Operations Manager said,"Were making preparations to have events and reservations whether it's somebody's birthday or wedding reception, bike race, cross country race and Spartan."
Staff was heartbroken to see the park go up in flames, then witness the aftermath it left behind. The cleanup has been a significant undertaking, especially with limited staff, volunteers and wild hogs tearing up portions of the park.
Flores continued, "We had COVID which impacted park use, then the fire. Then everything that has happened after the fire, erosion and landslides. And that will continue to happen for the next couple of years."
The fire also uncovered a significant amount of garbage, such as bottles and cans left by visitors, lying next to where bushes once were. Though the burn scars remain, the surrounding hills are turning green, flowers are blooming, and wildlife is returning. As you get ready for your next visit, keep in mind the land is still fragile.
Flores stated, "Don’t litter, stay on trails. Be respectful, don't pick the wild flowers, and don't sit in fire damaged trees to get that selfie shot."
Easter is typically the largest non-event day at Toro Park, followed by Mothers Day. They would have liked to been open on Easter, but its just not possible given what still needs to be done. However, the park is planned to reopen before the end of April. By that time 99% of the trails will be ready for use.
8 months after it was forced to close Toro Park is set to re-open
Ping
“”We had COVID which impacted park use, then the fire. Then everything that has happened after the fire, erosion and landslides. And when it looked like it couldn’t get any worse - the Biden administration happened.”
Looks like a good place to grow grapes for wine.
Here's one of my favorite shots from five years ago during a magnificent wildflower bloom at Toro Park. My daughter made the wildflower bouquet while we were hiking.
Wow!
Is that lupine?
Toro’s pastoral setting makes it the ideal place for your next family outing. Toro County Park has much to offer the outdoor enthusiast. The park facilities include an equestrian staging area and riding trails, two softball fields, playgrounds, horseshoe pits, mountain biking, volleyball courts, and over 20 miles of hiking trials.
The purple ones on left might be lupine.
That’s a great wildflower bouquet.
That....is beautiful.
River Road Wine Trail, Salinas, CA.
I forgot to mention that Toro Park is just 3 miles NE of San Benacio on CA-68 on the map above.
Also, this is John Steinbeck’s home country. He traipsed all over the hills around Toro Park as a boy and many of his novels are set in this country. The Steinbeck Museum in Salinas is really worth a visit.
Yes...purple on left
That’s beautiful.
I am a cement jungle guy, born and bred.
I SOOO wish I could move out of this place. Soon enough, I will.
Used to take my grandmother up to see the poppy fields blooming. It’s like a 2 week window. The best we could do without making it an overnight trip. My wife taught her, at age 87, how to use photoshop to crop and edit her photographs. She passed a few years ago at age 93. Had cancer, doctors gave her 6 months to live. She lived 6 more years. She would chew me out for taking 2 advil, said I only needed one. She refused all pain meds. Then they force fed her morphine tablets and she died the next day. But I digress.
Get me outta here!
Where?
Where to or where from?
After 20 years (10 fighting in the Trojan War and 10 more wandering the sea away from wife and home) Odysseus is instructed to take an oar from his ship an go inland till he come to a place where no one recognizes the oar or knows what it’s use might be. He is then to honor Poseidon and to make his new home among these people who know not the wine dark sea.
Fair enough. But who pleasured the wife in his absence?
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