Santa Clara County Parks

10/23/2026

Park Rangers enjoyed sharing coffee and conversation at the Starbucks next to Santa Teresa County Park as we celebrated Coffee with a Park Ranger 2026! We’re proud to continue building trust and creating positive connections with the visitors and neighbors we serve. Meeting with residents underscores our commitment not only to the Santa Teresa County Park community but to all the communities we serve throughout Santa Clara County. Every opportunity to listen, engage, and collaborate strengthens the partnership we strive to maintain with park users. Thank you to everyone who stopped by—we look forward to more conversations and continuing to foster meaningful connection in your county parks!

10/22/2026

Your weekend plan, sorted.

Head to Hellyer County Park and find all five:
☐ The new 70th anniversary bench at Cottonwood Lake
☐ The velodrome
☐ A bird on the lake
☐ The Coyote Creek Trail
☐ The visitor center

Snap your finds and tag us. We'll share our favorites.

Plan your visit at the link in bio.

10/21/2026

That’s a wrap on last week’s All-Staff Conference! 🌳💚

It was an absolute joy to bring the entire Parks team together to connect, make memories, and celebrate this year’s theme: Everyone Belongs in Parks! A huge thank you to all of our partner agencies who came out, and an extra special shoutout to the amazing organizers and Parks volunteers who made the day such a huge success.

Serving this community is what makes our work so special. We hope staff left feeling appreciated, inspired, and reminded that everyone belongs!

10/16/2026

On September 30, we gathered at Hellyer County Park to celebrate 70 years of Santa Clara County Parks.

Neighbors, riders, rangers and county leaders. A new bench overlooking Cottonwood Lake. And a reminder of why these parks exist: people chose to protect them, and people keep showing up.

All year, we're telling the stories of the people who make these parks what they are. Yours included.

10/16/2026

If you love to volunteer, be sure to sign up and join us on November 7th for this exciting event! Sign up here - https://scc.samaritan.com/custom/502/opp_details/5054

Join Santa Clara County Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga, together with Santa Clara County Parks, for a Park Beautification Day at Vasona Lake County Park on Saturday, November 7 from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm 🌳

Together, we'll plant trees and native plants to help care for our local parks. Volunteers are welcome to stay for an optional Backpack with MAK guided hike from 12-12:30 p.m.

The County's urban forest master plan approved last month notes that the environmental benefits helps everyone: Trees improve air quality and cooling

Scan the QR code or visit the link to register. We hope to see you there! 💜

10/15/2026

Ever wonder why Martial Cottle Park exists? Thanks to the Cottle and Lester families' generosity, this land was saved to keep Santa Clara Valley's farming history alive for generations to come. Come learn the story yourself - programming is up now at Parkhere.org.

10/13/2026

Cottle and Lester Historic Ranch and Perimeter Trail Dedication event on November 7, 2026, 10am-2pm. Come celebrate the completion of the Phase 1 Historic Ranch Construction Project and the Perimeter Trail. Explore the accessible pathways, view the exterior of the historic buildings, enjoy the activity stations, and learn about what life used to be like here.

Please note the historic buildings and structures will not be open to the public.

Please email [email protected] with any questions

Volunteers needed please sign up here: https://bit.ly/4jdoGV8

For more information, please visit Cottle and Lester Historic Ranch and Perimeter Trail Dedication Event | Santa Clara County Parks | County of Santa Clara

10/12/2026

We at Santa Clara County Parks want to honor all of our Native American Tribal partners and their efforts to preserve their ancestral lands on which we all live, and their culture, and their efforts to educate about their history.

10/10/2026

Every seasonal change brings new activity and behavior from all kinds of wildlife. For example, did you know that raccoons forage more in the fall to build up fat stores for lowered activity and colder weather in the winter?

If you want to discover more about seasonal wildlife behavior, check out the Agents of Discovery Program! The Wonders of Wildlife Mission is updated every season with six new challenges that teach you all about wildlife behavior, and we have 20 missions that you can play to learn more about Santa Clara County Parks! Visit parks.santaclaracounty.gov/learn/self-guided-activities/agents-discovery to download the app or play from your browser.

10/09/2026

Volunteers of all ages showed up at Alviso Marina County Park to remove invasive plants and help preserve this vital wetland. Conservation starts with community - thank you to everyone who came out!