Grand Opening of the Neighborhood Park at Ensen Community Park
Big Sur Land Trust, the Center for Community Advocacy, and the City of Salinas invite you to join us in celebrating the grand opening of Ensen Community Park’s new 6-acre neighborhood park — a vibrant, community-designed space in the heart of Salinas.
A Day to Celebrate
August 17, 2025 — Salinas families, community leaders, and nonprofit partners will come together to officially open the first phase of this long-awaited park!
FESTIVITIES INCLUDE
- Land acknowledgement
- Ribbon-cutting ceremony
- Live music
- Activities for all ages
- Local food options
- Opportunities to explore and engage with the new neighborhood park
About Ensen Community Park
Located at Carr Lake, in the center of Salinas — Monterey County’s most populous city and agricultural and cultural center — Ensen Community Park is reshaping the built environment at the city’s core.
This new park creates safe, walkable green space for thousands of nearby families to easily access nature, exercise, play, and gather — just steps from home. It was created through a deeply community driven process, informed by more than 6,000 residents and 14 partner organizations, over the course of 9 years.
6-ACRE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK FEATURES INCLUDE:
- Dog park
- Skate park
- Playground equipment
- Sport courts
- Kite hill
- Picnic areas
- Walking paths
- Interpretive signage
- Natural amphitheater and gazebo
CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION: A 67-acre wetland restoration area with bridges and 1.6 miles of recreational trails will open Summer 2026, creating additional climate resiliency, habitat for biodiversity, and outdoor recreation experiences for generations to come.
Our Community
The event is expected to draw hundreds of Salinas residents, local businesses, nonprofit organizations, civic leaders, and media. It’s a powerful opportunity for sponsors to connect with a vibrant, engaged community that includes families, healthcare professionals, educators, business leaders, and civic leaders who are shaping the future of Salinas.
Your Support
Sponsorship contributions support Ensen Community Park grand opening expenses and initial efforts to care for and activate park programming, volunteers, and community partnerships.
BIG SUR LAND TRUST OFFERS STRONG VISIBILITY FOR OUR PARTNERS:
- 3,000 households received our biannual printed newsletter.
- 8,235 individuals subscribe to our e-news blasts.
- 2,500 people visit our website each month.
- 9,035 social media followers and 12,608 post views per month.
Please reach out to Institutional Giving Manager, Sarah Digness at sdigness@bigsurlandtrust.org or 831-866-7820 to learn more about participating in this milestone for Salinas.
Ensen Community Park Sponsorship Sign Up
Please sign up as a sponsor for the grand opening of Ensen Community Park by July 25, 2025 to ensure your organization is featured in the event’s printed materials. Complete the form below and click “SUBMIT."