Chase Palm Park Expansion

Chase Palm Park with Carousel in the Background

Chase Palm Park, which is located on the Waterfront along Cabrillo Boulevard, provides a variety of recreational opportunities for visitors of all ages. The park includes a lagoon and creeks, picnic area, strolling/jogging paths, an antique carousel, a public meeting area, indoor and outdoor youth activity areas, and plenty of places for just relaxing. This new park expands the existing Chase Palm Park along Cabrillo Boulevard by an additional ten acres.

Chase Palm Park Entry

Chase Palm Park Lake

One of the highlights of the park is the carousel, which is protected from the beachfront climate by a graceful carousel housing structure, built by Melchiori Construction Company. The carousel was carved by Allan Hershell. It is 40 feet in diameter, has 36 intricately carved horses and two chariots and is a beautiful example of carousel carving at its zenith.

Two local artists, Susan Jordan and Scott Peterson, were selected to create art elements for the park. Included in the numerous works of art are a pod of whales swimming around the playground, a compass with bronze directional letters and interesting geographical information related to Santa Barbara, a bridge with custom cast iron railings reminiscent of early Chumash wooden fences, a lighthouse, and a mural painted on the sound wall.

The total cost for the construction and landscaping of the park was approximately $5 million. Prior to the construction of the park, the property was the last undeveloped site in the waterfront and very overgrown. A portion of the site was donated by Fess Parker and the Parker Family Trust. With the construction of the park, the waterfront area feels more complete and is an attractive entryway into the City. The new park has immensely upgraded an area that was in dire need of improvement.

Railroad Station Improvement Project

Railroad Depot Before Renovations

Railroad Depot After Renovations

The historic Santa Barbara Railroad Station was officially re-opened on December 18, 1999, following completion of the $8.4 million Railroad Station Improvement Project - a highly successful collaboration between the Santa Barbara Redevelopment Agency, the California Department of Transportation, and Amtrak. Extensive architectural, seismic, and systems-related upgrades were made to the depot building and the adjacent Railroad Express Agency (REA) building. New railroad passenger platforms were constructed, and new exterior lighting and irrigation systems were installed throughout the site. Two new parking lots, bus and taxi loading areas, and an off-site bus parking area were also created, making the site a true inter-modal transportation facility. Many architectural elements, such as light fixtures and door hardware, were custom made to match the original colors and materials of the station. The traditional landscaping was restored with California Pepper Trees, Canary Island Palms, and Lantana filling the project site with color. The station has been declared a City Landmark and is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The recent renovations have brought a profound aesthetic improvement to the lower State Street area, earning awards of recognition from the California Transportation Foundation, the California Office of Historic Preservation, Santa Barbara Beautiful, and the California Redevelopment Association. The Redevelopment Agency funded approximately $3.3 million of the project, with the remaining funding provided by the California Department of Transportation through Proposition 108 and 116 Bond Funds.

Storke Placita

Storke Placita Before Renovations

 
Storke Placita After Renovations

The 1999 renovation of Storke Placita has greatly enhanced the promenade linking State Street and historic De La Guerra Plaza. The placita's renovation is just one component of a more comprehensive plan being considered to improve the plaza; however, this project has been a huge benefit in and of itself. Most significantly, the renovation has helped the placita to shed its image as an area attractive to vandals and panhandlers. A beautifully designed sandstone compass, inlaid in the new pavement and engraved with the names of Santa Barbara's six sister cities, has replaced an unused fountain and sculpture pedestal. Impressive specimen plants and flowering shrubs lure pedestrians to stroll through the placita. The Redevelopment Agency, Parks and Recreation Department, and Public Works Department all contributed to making the project such a success.

Los Banos Pool Improvements

Historic Renovation

El Presidio - 1999 Reconstruction

El Presidio Before Renovations

El Presidio After Renovations

In recent years, the Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation has been actively involved in the reconstruction of El Presidio de Santa Barbara. The Presidio, which is located on Canon Perdido and Santa Barbara streets, contains the oldest building in Santa Barbara, El Cuartel--a fragment of the Spanish Royal Presido founded in 1782. To date, the Trust has reconstructed the Padre's Quarters, the Chapel, the Comandancia (rooms of the Presidio commandants), officers quarters, and a two-story observation tower. In order for the Trust to continue Phase II work, which will include the northwest corner of the project and the restoration of El Cuartel, the Redevelopment Agency has contributed a grant of $100,000 to match the grant of $100,000 by the State Department of Parks and Recreation. Private donors are providing additional funding. Agency funding will contribute to archaeological investigations and the preparation of architectural and engineering plans. The State is requiring that its grant be used for visitor-serving improvements, which will include handicapped accessible public restrooms to be housed in El Cuartel. This is an important project in the heart of Santa Barbara historic area. It draws both residents and visitors and stimulates the economy of the businesses located in this neighborhood.

Public Restrooms

Garden & Cabrillo Restroom Project

New public restrooms, designed by Poirier and David Architects, were recently constructed at the corner of Garden Street and Cabrillo Boulevard, adjacent to the Visitor Information Center. The Redevelopment Agency contributed approximately $340,000 toward the project, while the City of Santa Barbara funded the remainder of the project's $537,000 budget.

Public Restrooms at Garden and Cabrillo

Visitor Restroom Program

The Redevelopment Agency has operated the Visitor Restroom Program for many years in an effort to provide public restroom facilities for the many tourists who visit our community. The Agency has selected four businesses in the downtown area to participate in the program. The Agency pays these four businesses $200 per month to open their restroom facilities to the visiting public. This money helps pay for additional water usage, increased maintenance, and general wear and tear. Each business has a sign in the front of the store identifying it as a participant in the Visitor Restroom Program. The four businesses currently participating in the program are: 1. Santa Barbara Hot Spots at 36 State Street 2. Santa Barbara Roasting Company located at 321 Motor Way 3. Chilango's located at 503 State Street 4. RG's Giant Hamburger at 922 State Street.