2nd District Parks

2nd District Public Lands Map  

Arroyo Burro Beach County Park

Arroyo Burro Beach County Park is truly a gem within the Second District.  Known for its sandy beaches, swimming and surfing, and as a destination for dogs and their owners (off-leash only east of Arroyo Burro Slough), this park also offers a cool grassy area for picnics and playing.  Many amenities and aesthetic features at Arroyo Burro Beach have also been enhanced recently.  Visit Arroyo Burro Beach to experience a range of activities for the whole family. 

Click here to see a video of a community reception at Arroyo Burro Beach County Park: http://sbcounty.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=5&clip_id=888 

Supervisor Wolf and Cay Sanchez, Art From Scrap’s Executive Director, at Arroyo Burro Beach Community Reception

The Watershed Resource Center, operated by Art-From-Scrap, offers a meeting place for community groups and environmental education and artistic programs for schoolchildren.

The Chumash Maritime Association, in partnership with County Parks rangers and Second District contributions, is restoring the native plants and bioswale within the park.  The Chumash have a long and historic connection with Arroyo Burro, and the Chumash Tomol (canoe) is stored in a space below the Watershed Resource Center (WRC).  

The Boathouse restaurant opened in a beautifully remodeled space right on the beach, providing a world-class venue for enjoying outdoor dining, with sounds of the ocean in the background. 

The Wripples dog bath, in the island between the overflow parking lot and Cliff Drive, is a great place for dogs to enjoy a bath and blow dry before climbing back into the car to go home.  Click here to view a video of the self-service dog wash station: http://sbcounty.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=5&clip_id=759

The County Parks Foundation for Santa Barbara is working on the final stages of the Coastal Overlook art installation.  Designed by environmental artist Scott Peterson, this unique vantage point is nestled on a hill adjacent to The Boathouse restaurant.  Already 90% completed, the project is seeking private funds now to begin the final construction stage.  Architect Jason Currie has produced an artistic rendition of how the Coastal Overlook will look when completed.  

Jason Currie’s artistic rendition of the Coastal Overlook, a project of the County Parks Foundation for Santa Barbara

A wheelchair-accessible overlook (“Coastal Overlook No.2”) is also planned as a companion piece, and will be sited near the stairs down to the beach

To schedule a tour of the Coastal Overlook contact Deputy Director Erik Axelson at 805-681-5651 or by email at axelson@co.santa-barbara.ca.us.

Goleta Beach Park 

Goleta Beach Park is the County of Santa Barbara’s most popular park, with nearly 1.5 million visitors per year.  Park patrons enjoy a fishing pier, swimming and sunbathing beaches, volleyball and horseshoe courts, children’s play areas – and some of the most accessible picnic and barbecue areas, including group areas.  Vantage points along Goleta Slough provide exceptional bird watching opportunities.  The Beachside Bar & Café is a local landmark, which also includes a take-out snack bar.

For more information on hours and directions to the park, please click on “Goleta Beach Park” (http://www.sbparks.org/2007/Parks/goletabeach.html)

NEW Goleta Pier Angler Center

Goleta Beach County Park now includes the Goleta Pier Angler Center which is a multi-purpose angler and marine education center  formed through a dynamic partnership between Santa Barbara County Parks and the United Pier & Shore Anglers of California.

The Angler Center teaches new and experienced anglers to fish successfully and responsibly, provides on-pier assistance and loaner poles for use by community groups and privately organized outings, performs daily pier cleaning and encourages anglers and other visitors towards a better appreciation of the marine environment found at piers like Goleta.  Fishery regulation booklets, fish identification charts, and pamphlets showing safe catch-and-release practices and how to safely handle birds are also available at the Center.

Under state law, anglers at Goleta Pier are not required to have a fishing license.  Goleta Pier is open for fishing 24 hours per day all year round (weather conditions permitting).

The Goleta Pier Angler Center is open 6 days a week June-September (Closed Thursdays) 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.  The remainder of the year the Center is open weekends, holidays and for special events 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

For further information about the Angling Center please contact Pier Host Boyd Grant at apierhead@hotmail.com

Watch the video on the new Goleta Pier Angler Center http://sbcounty.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=5&clip_id=637&publish_id=&event_id= 

Visitors to this beautiful wooded park enjoy picnics, barbeques, hiking, horseshoes, and trail rides.  A portion of the park is available for group events.  Tucker’s Grove is also a convenient trailhead for the popular San Antonio Creek Trail.  

For more information on hours, reservations and directions please click on “Tucker’s Grove Park http://www.sbparks.org/2007/Parks/Tuckersgrove.html