Cover your nose and mouth
Stay six feet apart
Wash your hands often
All County parks, beaches, and trails are open, including playgrounds and restrooms.
Map of All Parks in Santa Cruz County
We are open 6:00am-7:45pm Monday-Friday and 9:00am-4:45pm Saturday and Sunday. Simpkins Family Swim Center Reopening Overview PDF
Please direct all questions to the swim center. You can reach us by phone, 831-454-7960 or email, swimcenter@scparks.com.
Available by reservation only for anyone age 9 and older. Family members and members of the same household may share lanes, otherwise limit one swimmer per lane. Children age 9-12 must pass a water proficiency exam before using lap lanes. Learn how to reserve a lane here.
The warm water pool is available for single family reservations. Learn how to reserve a space here.
Available on a limited basis. Camps enrollment totals are limited to 4 stable groups of 14 individuals.
Small group lifeguard classes are currently running. Courses are a blend of virtual learning and in-person practical skills classes. Learn more here.
Limit 6 participants per course.
Simpkins Family Swim Center is currently taking applications for lifeguard and head lifeguard positions. Find out more here.
Most County Park's recreation programs have been cancelled.
Current County Park's public recreation services and partnerships:
Outdoor class programs such as yoga, martial arts, fitness, Music & Me, and all other specialty classes require a permit to operate in County Parks. Outdoor fitness is approved through all tiers of the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy and Stay-at-Home orders, but are subject to change at anytime.
Outdoor ceremonies, such as wedding ceremonies, are permitted in the following select park locations: Aptos Village Park, Dolphin/Sumner Beach, Felton Covered Bridge, Highlands Park, Quail Hollow Ranch, Seascape Park, Scott Creek Beach. Outdoor ceremonies are approved through all tiers of the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy and Stay-at-Home orders, but are subject to change at anytime. Wedding receptions are not allowed as part of the outdoor ceremony reservation.
Permits for physical conditioning, practice, skill-building, and training are approved through all tiers of the California Blueprint for a Safer Economy, but are subject to change at anytime. Inter-team competitions (i.e., between two teams) are not currently allowed. Contact us to find out more about obtaining a permit for sports fields.
Inter-team competitions, meets, races, or similar events are authorized only if (a) both teams are located in the same county and the sport is authorized in the Table below; or (b) teams are located in immediately bordering counties and the sport is authorized in both counties in the Table below.
Gatherings are defined as social situations that bring together people from different households at the same time in a single space or place. When people from different households mix, this increases the risk of transmission of COVID-19.
Keep the households that you interact with stable over time. By spending time with the same people, risk of transmission is reduced. Participating in multiple gatherings with different households or groups is strongly discouraged.
Gatherings should be two hours or less. The longer the duration, the risk of transmission increases.
Gatherings that include more than 3 households are prohibited. This includes everyone present, including hosts and guests. Remember, the smaller the number of people, the safer.
Interested in volunteering with County Parks? Volunteer opportunities are subject to current County and State COVID-19 Guidelines.
Individuals, families, and groups can volunteer for a one-day project or dedicate themselves to an on-going or long-term project.
Volunteer opportunities at County Parks include:
Please note, all volunteers receive project coordination, safety orientation, and materials needed for the specific project from the Santa Cruz County Parks Department prior to the start of their service.
(831) 454-7901
Monday – Friday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, except holidays
PRCweb@santacruzcounty.us
Our physical office is open, but staff availability is limited as most staff members are working remotely.