In order to continue maintaining and enhancing City parks and facilities, rental fee updates will take effect on July 1, 2025. These updates are essential to our ongoing commitment to ensuring the quality of our parks, open spaces and community amenities. The new fee schedule will apply to:

• Vets Hall Rentals
• BBQ/Picnic Area Rentals
• Sports Field Rentals
• Special Events

The revenue generated from these updated fees will directly support:

• Facility maintenance and improvements
• Sustainable recreation programming
• Enhanced services for residents and visitors

Reservations made before July 1, 2025, will be honored at the current rates, even if your event is scheduled for a future date.

For full details on the new fee schedule and additional information, please visit our website at https://carpinteriaca.gov/parks-and-recreation/reservations/. If you have any questions, please email us at recreation@carpinteriaca.gov.

Downtown Linden Avenue will be painted red, white and blue when the 2024 Independence Parade arrives on Saturday, June 28, at 3:30 p.m. Don’t miss this chance to see friends, family and neighbors representing local organizations and businesses in this beloved local parade.

Preceding the parade, Rods & Roses Classic Car Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information about the car show, visit rodsandroses.com.

To accommodate the two downtown events, Linden Avenue will be closed between 6th Street and Carpinteria Avenue from early Saturday morning until after the parade is complete.

AgeWell members are invited to attend an informational session about The Wave, a new on-demand transit service introduced by the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District (MTD), on Thursday, June 26 from 1 to 2:15 p.m. in the Veterans Hall Meeting Room, 941 Walnut Ave. The Wave will provide curb-to-curb rides within Carpinteria for a flat fare.

Riders can book rides via a smartphone app or by calling the transit center. This new service improves local connectivity and reaches previously unserved areas. The presentation will be followed by a question and answer period, and attendees can enroll for senior discounts using the Tap2Ride contactless payment system.

Exciting news! The Spring 2025 Carpinteria CERT Final Drill is happening on Tuesday, July 1 from 6 – 9 p.m. – and we need your help to make it a success!

We’re looking for volunteers to play the role of injured participants during the drill. It’s a fun, hands-on way to support local emergency preparedness, meet fellow community members and see CERT in action. No acting experience necessary. Participants will be given a short scenario and basic moulage (fake injury makeup).

If you are interested, please sign up today at https://carpinteriaca.gov/local-info/emergency-preparedness/cert/certfinaldrillvolunteers/ . Email any questions to Program Manager Juliza Briones at  julizab@carpinteriaca.gov.

In observance of Juneteenth, City Hall, the Community Pool, the Carpinteria Community Library and the AgeWell program will be closed on Thursday, June 19.

This important holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans serves as a powerful reminder of the long struggle for freedom and equality, and its recognition underscores our community’s commitment to understanding and honoring this pivotal moment in American history.

While most city facilities will pause operations, lifeguards will be on duty at City Beach and the Junior Lifeguard program will continue as normal.

As the public review process continues on the proposed Surfliner Inn, members of the public will have numerous opportunities to contribute their perspective on the project, a 36-room boutique hotel proposed for the corner of 5th Street and Linden Avenue.

The next step in the public review process is to have an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared. This will involve publishing a Notice of Preparation (NOP) and holding a Public Scoping Meeting (see flowchart below). City Staff and ESA have scheduled those first steps to occur in the coming weeks:

• NOP 30-day Comment Period: May 29 – June 27, 2025
• Public Scoping Meeting: Monday, June 16, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers

The NOP serves as a formal request for public input on the scope and content of the EIR. During the 30-day NOP comment period, responsible agencies and members of the public will be encouraged to submit comments related to the project’s potential environmental issues, mitigation measures, and alternatives.

The Public Scoping Meeting is proposed to be held within that 30-day comment period to further enhance transparency and public participation. While no project decisions are made at the Scoping Meeting, attendees will have the opportunity to ask clarifying questions about the project and/or the process, and to raise issues regarding the potential environmental impacts in a public setting. This proactive involvement will help ensure that the EIR comprehensively addresses all relevant environmental concerns, leading to more informed decision-making and better project outcomes. All of this information will be prominently posted on the City’s project webpage at https://carpinteriaca.gov/city-hall/community-development/linden-inn-project/ and anyone who would like to be added to the interested parties list should email Mindy Fogg at mindyf@carpinteriaca.gov.

Now that school is out for summer vacation, the tennis and pickleball courts at Carpinteria Middle School are available for free, open play all day on weekdays and weekends. There is one exception: The pickleball courts are reserved for AgeWell members on Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 to 10 a.m. until school resumes in August. Otherwise, both the tennis and pickleball courts can be accessed by anyone who wants to stretch their legs, work on their serve or try a new sport this summer!

The courts are located on the corner of Palm Avenue and 8th Street, and play is first-come-first-served. Players are responsible for bringing their own equipment. Carpinteria Community Library cardholders can check out a set of pickleball racquets and balls at the library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave.

Carpinteria Community Library has an incredible Summer Reading Program in the works! The space-themed program, “Take me to your Reader,” kicks off with an SB Bubble Guy show on Friday, June 13 at 5 p.m. at the library, 5141 Carpinteria Ave.

Immersing audiences in a world of wonder and enchantment, the SB Bubble Guy will create an incredible display of bubbles, including bubble sculptures and bubble tricks.

This event, like all library events, is free and open to the public. Stay tuned for more information about the line-up of great Summer Reading Program events.

June is Pride Month in Carpinteria, a time to recognize and honor the LGBTQ+ community and commemorate the pivotal 1969 Stonewall Riots. The City of Carpinteria is committed to fostering a safe, inclusive and equitable community for all.

We acknowledge the immeasurable impact LGBTQ+ individuals have had on our nation’s cultural, civic and economic successes. The rainbow progress flag symbolizes this commitment, advocating for pride, inclusion and the intersection of racial, sexual and gender justice.

Carpinteria proudly partners with organizations like Pacific Pride Foundation and Carp PRIDE to support LGBTQ+ visibility and dignity. We celebrate Pacific Pride Foundation’s 50th Anniversary and their vital work providing health and social services.

Let’s continue to educate, raise awareness and work together to eliminate prejudice and advance equal rights for everyone.

We’re thrilled to welcome Bret McNulty as the City of Carpinteria’s new Principal Planner! Bret brings a wealth of experience and great energy to our team, and we’re excited to have him on board.

Before joining Carpinteria, Bret served as a planner in both the public and private sectors, including as a consultant for the Cities of Goleta and San Marino. He also worked in the Long-Range Planning Division for the County of Santa Barbara. Bret holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Environmental Studies (Planning) from Sonoma State University.

Outside of work, Bret enjoys kayaking, playing chess with his son, and is a talented musician who loves to play guitar and sing. He is also a devoted Dodgers fan!