Welcome to the Draft Countywide Recreation Master Plan

The County of Santa Barbara (County) created this website to share the Draft Recreation Master Plan currently under preparation. You will find summaries of the planning effort to date, descriptions of the proposed parks and trails projects, and an overview the approach and tools to implement the plan. The County welcomes your feedback on this draft plan.

Please also visit  www.SBCRecPlan.com  for more information.

Table of Content

You can navigate this online draft plan by chapter by clicking the links in the header bar above or the table of content below:

  •  Parks are for Everyone : Overview of public outreach and community engagement and demographic research for recreation planning.
  •  Existing Parks & Trails : Inventory and analysis of existing public parkland and the trails system in Santa Barbara County.
  •  Recreation Needs Assessment : Analysis of regional needs for different types and amounts of public parks and trails.
  •  A Plan for Parks, Recreation, & Trails : Planning for new public parks and trails in the unincorporated areas, including coordination with other public recreation providers in the county such as the cities and special districts.
  •  Pathway to Implementation : Assessment of costs and funding options, recreation development programs, County Parks administration, and public-private partnerships to provide public recreation benefits and implement the Recreation Master Plan.

Special Thanks!

The County recognizes the efforts and contributions of our communities to shape the recreation planning presented herein, including our multi-jurisdictional steering committee comprising all 8 cities and 2 recreation special districts, the Santa Barbara Conservation Blueprint, the Santa Barbara County Education Office, the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB), and our community partners: Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center, El Centro, MICOP, People's Self Help Housing, and the Santa Barbara County Promotores.

Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.

John Muir

Recreation is Essential

Recreation is leisure, exercise, sports, and fun during free time and is an indispensable part of human health and well-being. Planning for recreation has unmatched benefits for overall community sustainability and quality of life. Recreation provides important economic benefits to Santa Barbara County residents from both local activities (e.g., sports tournaments) and tourism. Recreation facilities and programs directly improve human health and have added economic, social, and environmental benefits.

The Recreation Master Plan identifies needs for new and improved parks such as sports fields and courts in underserved communities.

The County of Santa Barbara's Parks Division of the Community Services Department (County Parks) provides, protects, and enhances parks, recreation, and trails in the unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County. County Parks’ vision is to create and manage a sustainable, vibrant, and diverse system of parks, trails, and recreation facilities that offer all people the opportunity to explore, play, exercise, socialize, and connect with the County’s natural resources, consistent with responsible environmental stewardship and resilience. County Parks also partners with other agencies and organizations to support high-quality recreation for all in Santa Barbara County.

Goals for the Recreation Master Plan

County Parks is creating the Santa Barbara County Recreation Master Plan (Recreation Master Plan) to assess the need for parks, recreation, and trails in Santa Barbara County and guide the development of facilities and programs to help meet these needs. The goal of the Recreation Master Plan is to enhance the quality of life and leisure experience for Santa Barbara County residents of all ages. While the Recreation Master Plan is a County plan, it also provides vision, direction, context, and recommendations for County Parks to substantially improve the countywide recreation system in partnership with other public agencies. The Recreation Master Plan will guide recreation planning in the county toward the following outcomes:

  1. Establish a long-range vision. The Recreation Master Plan provides an action plan, implementation strategy, and recommendations for near-term (5 to 10 years) and long-term (10-20 years) recreation projects and budgets for capital improvements.
  2. Assess current and future recreation needs of the community. As communities change and populations grow, so should parks and recreation systems. The County's recreation needs were last comprehensively assessed in 1980 as part of the Comprehensive Plan. The Recreation Master Plan updates this assessment to support long-term resource allocation.
  3. Promote new ideas and partnerships. Through collaborative efforts with community partners, public agencies, and private proponents, the County can help realize new and innovative ideas to help meet diverse recreation needs.
  4. Establish a strong foundation for grant pursuits. Many grant applications require an approved plan, usually developed through a public engagement process. The Recreation Master Plan provides that planning support, as well as environmental review in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
  5. Create recreational value within existing public lands. Recreation facilities within underutilized public open spaces present a key opportunity to accommodate recreation needs in areas where projected population growth is anticipated.
  6. Plan for sustainable recreation. The Recreation Master Plan considers equitable access to parks and trails, active transportation connectivity, low-impact facilities, and economically balanced public infrastructure investments.
  7. Build community engagement, education, and support. A robust community outreach program to develop the Recreation Master Plan creates ongoing engagement and support for funding and implementation strategies on an ongoing basis.

More to Read...

To learn more about Santa Barbara County and the background for the Recreation Master Plan, click on the button below!

Planning for Recreation in Santa Barbara County

Planning for parks, recreation, and trails in Santa Barbara County benefits everyone in permanent, wide-ranging ways. Investing in parks, recreation facilities, and trails means not only meeting current and future recreation needs but also forging economic vitality, community sustainability, and resilience. Strong connections exist between recreation assets and their impact on local and regional economies, public health, natural resource conservation, and community sustainability and resilience, including the following:

  • Park projects preserve public land for outdoor recreation and play while conserving and restoring ecological function. Santa Barbara County’s recreation lands help conserve open land uses, which play a critical role in the region's environmental sustainability by providing a range of ecosystem services that enhance air quality, water quality, and energy conservation and support species habitat, among other benefits.
  • Open space, parks, trails, and recreation programs encourage people to exercise, improving public health outcomes.
  • Trail projects are a low-impact way to keep people active and provide access to the natural world, which has innumerable benefits for physical and mental health.
  • Outdoor play is essential for children and access to parks supports community identity and cohesion.
  • Parks and trails play an important role in community hazard and emergency planning, where parks support evacuation and staging during wildfires and trails provide access to firefighters and emergency services. When planned as part of community resilience hubs, parks can include cooling and warming facilities during extreme weather days, giving children the chance to play even when the weather does not cooperate.
  • Parks can support clean energy infrastructure integrated with recreation facilities, including solar rooftops and carports, electric vehicle charging stations, and battery storage sites, in alignment with countywide climate change initiatives such as the County's  One Climate Initiative .
  • Recreation lands and facilities enhance the quality of life for residents and attract visitors who contribute additional dollars to local economic activity. County recreation lands generate roughly $725 million to $1.5 billion in annual economic activity from visitation, and roughly $41 million to $66 million annually in recreation benefits to residents.

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To learn more about perspectives on the economic benefits generated by publicly accessible recreation lands in the county, click on the button below!

Parks are for Everyone

By their nature, public parks, recreation facilities, and trails are for everyone, regardless of age, income, race/ethnicity, language, or abilities. This guiding philosophy ensures everyone has access to and feels welcome in public recreational spaces and places. Equitable access to recreation helps support sustainable communities, providing opportunities for play, leisure, exercise, and access to the outdoors to benefit community health and social well-being.

Santa Barbara County has 8 cities, 19 unincorporated communities, and thousands of acres of rural ranches and agricultural lands. Santa Barbara County's approximately 450,000 residents live in different cities and unincorporated communities that range dramatically from large suburban communities such as Orcutt and Eastern Goleta Valley to small rural towns such as Sisquoc, Los Olivos, and Los Alamos. The majority of County residents live in urban areas with approximately 309,226 (68.7 percent) of County residents living in incorporated cities and 140,858 (31.3 percent) residing in unincorporated communities and rural areas. Most residents live in the Santa Maria Valley and the South Coast. Based on the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG)  Regional Growth Forecast , the population could grow by approximately 45,000 residents through 2050. Most of this growth is projected in the Santa Maria Valley and Lompoc Valley, though total growth could be highest in the South Coast.

Source: U.S. Census 2019: SBCAG 2018

Demographic factors such as existing and future population, age, and household income levels indicate where and how recreation facilities and programs should be provided. For example, considering age characteristics, children may seek playgrounds, sports fields, and active recreation programs while adults and seniors may desire hiking and running trails, sports courts, and facilities that support fitness and active lifestyles. Further, consideration of median income helps inform recreation planners where residents may struggle with recreation costs and benefit from access to free or low-cost recreation facilities and programs. Considering demographic and income characteristics together determines where disadvantaged or underserved communities and neighborhoods may exist, indicating where special attention to recreation planning may be needed to address inequities. The diverse characteristics and experiences of the people who live in Santa Barbara County are valuable to understand through effective outreach and engagement, data analysis, and recreation planning.

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To learn more about the demographic characteristics of Santa Barbara County and how they indicate recreation now and in the future, click on the button below!

Outdoor recreation is essential for young people, providing the opportunity for sports and other activities that support life-long health and well-being.

Community Outreach & Engagement for the Recreation Master Plan

Equitable and inclusive community engagement that reaches a diversity of representative groups is central to recreation planning and is fundamental to establishing high-quality parks, trails, and recreational facilities that meet the needs of all people. To create opportunities for as many people as possible to participate in the recreation planning process, the County fostered over two years of creative, adaptive, and diverse outreach techniques directly in communities throughout the county. The County set out to maximize participation and target input for underserved and underrepresented people with the following objectives:

Overview of the Public Outreach Program

To inform the Recreation Master Plan, the County implemented an unprecedented outreach effort to directly connect with communities throughout Santa Barbara County. Between 2021 and 2022, County Parks conducted a robust public outreach program (POP) consisting of a diverse and innovative community engagement toolbox. The input and feedback received through nearly 8,000 recreation surveys and 86 meetings and workshops directly informed the recreation needs assessment for the Recreation Master Plan. The results of the POP and locations of outreach events are presented below. The input received through the POP is integrated into the  Recreation Needs Assessment  below.

Figure 1. POP Summary. The County's most extensive outreach effort to date for recreation planning resulted in excellent input from a wide range of stakeholders and community members, including nearly 8,000 recreation surveys and 86 workshops and meetings.

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To learn more about the County's outreach for the Recreation Master Plan and the result of the recreation surveys, click on the button below!

Existing Parks & Trails

Recreation in Santa Barbara County takes place at parks, beaches, campgrounds, trails, open space areas, and outdoor/indoor recreation facilities in distinct communities. The county’s recreation system serves residents from unincorporated and incorporated communities, as well as visitors from near and far.

An inventory of existing public parks and trails helps inform the Recreation Master Plans assessment of existing recreation service levels and needs in each recreation planning area.

A key step in the recreation planning process involves understanding the parks, recreation, and trail facilities currently available, and assessing how that system is serving existing populations. To establish a clear vision for the future of parks, recreation, and trails in Santa Barbara County, this section evaluates the existing parks, trails, and open space to help understand where recreation facilities are meeting community needs, and where there may be gaps.

Recreation Planning Areas

Each community in Santa Barbara County has its own identity but for recreation planning purposes, there are essentially five recreation planning areas, including Santa Maria Valley, Lompoc Valley, Santa Ynez Valley, Cuyama Valley, and the South Coast. These planning areas recognize that residents tend share recreational facilities and programs in their local community, such as regional parks, sports complexes, gymnasiums, trail systems, or community parks. The Recreation Master Plan addresses existing parks and trails, recreation needs, and planned improvements countywide and by recreation planning area. Notably, Vandenberg Space Force Base, Los Padres National Forest, and Channel Islands National Park have unique recreation features and are managed outside local agency jurisdictions. While the Recreation Master Plan recognizes recreation in these areas, it does not apply to these areas.

Public Parks and Open Space

Santa Barbara County is renowned for its outdoor beauty and recreation opportunities provided by public parks and open spaces. Locals and visitors enjoy beaches and blufftop open spaces, high-quality parks with playgrounds and sports facilities, and public open space preserves. The county's mild climate and coastal location support year-round recreation. Parks and open spaces support a diversity of sports and recreation activities while also conserving natural resources and supporting access to the outdoors in support of healthy lifestyles and sustainable communities.

As a basis for park planning and needs assessment, the Recreation Master Plan includes an inventory of public parks and open space countywide. The existing parkland inventory documents the location, classification, and range of recreation facilities for the following property types:

  • Public Parkland. 170 properties (2,192 acres) providing free, accessible public facilities supporting a range of recreational opportunities
  • Limited Access Parkland. 49 properties (149,968 acres) providing fee-based or limited access (e.g., docent-led, reservation-only, and day-use fees) recreational opportunities
  • Public Open Space. 83 properties (655,228 acres) providing public open space primarily for natural resources and only supporting low-impact outdoor recreation such as natural trails or bird-watching in designated areas

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To review the complete parkland inventory, click on the button below!

Public Parkland

As the Recreation Master Plan’s goal is to plan for public recreation, public parkland is the basis for local parks and recreation planning.

Approximately 2,192 acres of public parkland provide free, accessible parks and recreation facilities in Santa Barbara County. An estimated 715 acres of this public parkland is provided by County Parks with a wide range of facilities, including sports courts and fields, playgrounds, public pools, off-leash dog areas, disc golf, and campgrounds. The remaining 1,477 acres of public parkland are provided primarily by cities and special recreation districts such as the Isla Vista Recreation and Parks District (IVRPD) and the Cuyama Valley Recreation District (CVRD), as well as the State of California.

Public parks support sustainable communities with outdoor play, exercise, youth and adult, sports, and community identity.

Public parkland in Santa Barbara County supports access to outdoor recreation, sports, and play. The majority of parkland is located on the South Coast, including Goleta, Santa Barbara, and Carpinteria. Santa Maria Valley, including Santa Maria, Orcutt, and Guadalupe, provides nearly a quarter of the parkland. Parkland in Lompoc Valley serves Lompoc, Vandenberg Village, and Mission Hills/Mesa Oaks. Santa Ynez Valley parkland is provided primarily by Solvang and Buellton. Cuyama Valley's public parkland is provided by one park located in New Cuyama.

Public Parks by Type

The Recreation Master Plan evaluates existing public parkland in Santa Barbara County based on how it is distributed between the recreation planning areas and what type of park is provided to the public. A summary of existing public parks by type is provided below, including the total number and combined total acres in Santa Barbara County.

Figure 6. Summary of Public Parkland Types in Santa Barbara County. The Recreation Master Plan evaluates the existing public parkland in the county as a basis for assessing needs and equitable access to recreation facilities in all recreation planning areas.

Public parks in Santa Barbara County provide a wide array of recreation facilities to support active sports, exercise, play, and recreation needs in each community. From time-tested essentials such as playgrounds, baseball diamonds, soccer fields, and basketball courts to emerging high-demand facilities like pickleball courts, disc golf courses, off-leash dog areas, and aquatic facilities, the Recreation Master Plan includes a countywide inventory of known recreation facilities within public parks. These essential facilities support community well-being and sustainability, supporting many interests and activities for all ages and abilities. A summary of the total number of each facility type analyzed for the Recreation Master Plan is provided below.

County Parks provides two of the 20 public campgrounds in Santa Barbara, including Jalama Beach located on the spectacular coastline of Lompoc Valley

As a popular destination for travelers seeking outdoor adventures, Santa Barbara County also has 20 campgrounds in local public parks or in State Parks. County Parks provides two popular campgrounds at  Lake Cachuma  and  Jalama Beach  County Parks. Both County campgrounds support tent and RV camping plus onsite yurt and/or cabin rentals, as well as guest and day-use amenities. California State Parks provides camping at  Gaviota State Park ,  Refugio State Beach , and  El Capitan State Beach . Additional camping and backpacking facilities are also provided within  Los Padres National Forest .

Federal and State Parks and Open Space

While public parkland is the focus of the Recreation Master Plan, the value and unique resources provided by Santa Barbara County's public open spaces and limited access parklands are recognized as substantial pieces of the natural resource and outdoor recreation landscape. Los Padres National Forest contributes over 630,000 acres of public wilderness and backcountry with over 770 miles of trails. The National Forest supports natural resource conservation and unique outdoor recreational activities such as camping, hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. California State Parks provides approximately 8,345 acres of public open space with three campgrounds and approximately 7 miles of trails.

Public Trails

Trails in Santa Barbara County traverse stunning landscapes ranging from coastal bluffs and sandy beaches to creeks and wetlands to foothill chaparral and rocky canyons. This diversity means outdoor enthusiasts can experience everything from ocean views to serene woodland paths and dramatic mountain vistas. Trails in the Santa Ynez Mountains offer breathtaking panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and Channel Islands. Coastal trails provide picturesque scenes of the shoreline and marine life. Backcountry trails in the Los Padres National Forest take visitors deep into the county's wilderness areas. Urban trails provide access to beautiful natural corridors, agricultural areas, and open spaces while connecting neighborhoods, schools, parks, and other services. Santa Barbara County's mild climate allows for year-round hiking and outdoor activities, making trails an accessible form of recreation for all ages.

Santa Barbara County has world-class hiking trails that support fitness and exploration of the natural environment for all ages.

In Santa Barbara County, approximately 1,190 miles of trails support hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, and nature lovers to explore. An estimated 412 miles of trails are provided within cities and unincorporated communities in the 5 recreation planning areas. These trails provide neighborhood and community access to hiking and biking within open spaces, such as the Orcutt Hills, and along corridors, such as the Obern Trail along San Antonio Creek in Goleta. An additional 778 miles of trails are provided in the Los Padres National Forest and Vandenberg Space Force Base. These trails provide multi-user access to Santa Barbara County's most rural wilderness areas, as well as backcountry camping and backpacking.

The California Coastal Trail also follows portions the county's 113-mile coastline, comprising segments of both natural trails in scenic settings and paved trails through neighborhoods and busy waterfront areas. Ongoing statewide efforts to complete the California Coastal Trail would achieve a continuous route from Oregon to Mexico and Santa Barbara County would provide a key segment from Carpinteria, around Point Conception, and through the Guadalupe Dunes.

Trails are provided by several agencies, including the County, the cities and special districts, State Parks, and the U.S. Forest Service. Strong community involvement and conservation efforts help preserve the natural beauty and accessibility of these trails. Organizations like the Santa Barbara County Trails Council, Santa Maria Valley Open Space, Lompoc Trails, and the Montecito Trails Foundation provide resources and support for maintaining and enjoying the trails.

Trails in Santa Barbara County support multiple activities, including hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.

Trails by Type

As a basis for trail planning and needs assessment, the Recreation Master Plan includes an inventory of known trails in all 5 recreation planning areas in the county. The existing trail inventory documents the name (if known), location, alignment, and classification. A summary of existing trails by type is provided below, including the combined total trail miles in Santa Barbara County.

Figure 9. Summary of Trail Types in Santa Barbara County. The Recreation Master Plan evaluates the existing public parkland in the county as a basis for assessing needs and inequitable access to recreation facilities in all recreation planning areas.

Trails support access to outdoor recreation, exercise, and exploration of the natural environment. The Recreation Master Plan evaluates existing trails in Santa Barbara County based on how they are distributed between the recreation planning areas and the type of trail experience provided to the public. The majority of trails are located in the Los Padres National Forest. However, as a basis for local trail planning, the Recreation Master Plan focuses on the trails provided within the 5 recreation planning areas. The South Coast, including Goleta, Santa Barbara, and Carpinteria, is served by 55 percent of the local trail miles in the county. Santa Maria Valley, Santa Ynez Valley, and Lompoc Valley each provide less than 20 percent of the trail miles. Cuyama has 1 percent of the trail miles with limited connections to the Los Padres National Forest.

Santa Barbara County Parks & Trails Inventory Map

The inventory of parks and trails in Santa Barbara County is presented geographically below, combining data from several agencies into one interactive map. The Recreation Master Plan uses this map for park and trail planning. While this map collates the best available geographic information and is considered reliable for planning purposes, the information is subject to change and may not represent the actual conditions on the ground. Enjoy exploring the different layers to discover all the useful and interesting information they provide!

Recreation Needs Assessment

To understand what types of parks, recreation, and trails are needed in Santa Barbara County, an assessment of how and where the existing public parks and trails are either meeting or not meeting local demands must be prepared. The County conducted a recreation needs assessment by combining several indicators for each recreation planning area and Santa Barbara County as a whole. Because of the size, scale, and diversity of Santa Barbara County, this assessment considers several types of indicators, both qualitative and quantitative, to give a broad perspective of the recreation level of service provided countywide now and in the future. As described below, each indicator provides insight into unmet needs to inform the recommendations and actions of the Recreation Master Plan. (see also,  A Plan for Parks, Recreation, and Trails  below).

Overview of Recreation Needs Indicators Study

Indicators are like gauges on a dashboard. They inform decision-making but do not make those decisions. Rather, decisions are made using the information the dashboard provides. Accordingly, the County conducted a Recreation Needs Indicator Study using the following strategically selected indicators to help ensure that the recommendations developed in the Recreation Master Plan are timely, relevant, reliable, and comprehensive. The indicators are considered together with input received through public feedback to help guide County Parks, its partner agencies, and the public toward recreation projects that meet evolving needs over time. The results of the study are integrated with the recreation needs assessment below.

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To learn more about the recreation needs assessment and the indicators investigated to inform the Recreation Master Plan's, click on the button below!

Public Park Level of Service (LOS).

The County analyzed the  existing parks  to determine the existing and future Public Park Level of Service (LOS) in Santa Barbara County and within each of the 5 recreation planning areas. Public Park LOS indicators evaluate how parks serve the community. Since the Recreation Master Plan considers regional recreation needs within 5 recreation planning areas that comprise cities and surrounding unincorporated communities, the Recreation Master Plan considers how local parks compare to similar regions in the nation. Public Park LOS indicators can also be compared to benchmarks set by similar agencies. Benchmarks are published by the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) in its  Agency Performance Review . These indicators establish current conditions and direct future planning efforts toward recommended LOS targets. A summary of the Recreation LOS metrics used to indicate needs is provided below:

Figure 12. Median parkland per 1,000 people by population size. The Recreation Master Plan compares current and future parkland LOS to these national benchmarks as goals for long-term planning. Source: NRPA 2023

Parkland LOS (Acres of Public Parks per 1,000 people). This indicator compares how much public parkland is available to a population. A low number could indicate overcrowding and conflicting demands for the available facilities. The County's adopted standard is 4.7 acres of public parkland per 1,000 people and the Recreation Master Plan recognizes this policy standard for unincorporated areas. In addition, the Recreation Master Plan compares the recreation planning areas to national benchmarks for similar regions. As of 2023, the typical park and recreation agency manages 10.8 acres of parkland per 1,000 people in its jurisdiction. However, the amount of parkland per 1,000 people varies according to the population of the area served by the agency; these form the Parkland LOS goals for the Recreation Master Plan (Figure 12).

Currently, Santa Barbara County provides 4.9 acres of parkland per 1,000 people, exceeding the County's adopted standard but falling significantly short of typical parks and recreation agencies nationally. Currently, Santa Maria Valley is the only region that falls short of meeting the County's adopted standard with 3.5 acres of parkland per 1,000 people. With population growth through 2050 and no change to the current amount of public parkland, Santa Barbara County would provide only 4.3 acres of parkland per 1,000 people, which indicates approximately 254 additional acres of parkland are needed to maintain the County's adopted standard in 2050. By 2050, only Cuyama Valley will have enough parkland to achieve the Parkland LOS goals. Further, Lompoc Valley and Santa Maria Valley would not achieve the County's adopted standard. To achieve the Recreation Master Plan's Parkland LOS goals for each region, the county needs over 3,300 additional acres of public parkland over the next 20 to 30 years.

Figure 13. Median people per park by population size. The Recreation Master Plan compares current and future park count LOS to national benchmarks as goals for long-term planning. Source: NRPA 2023

Park Count LOS (Total People per Public Park). This indicator compares the total number of parks serving a population. A high number could indicate overcrowding and conflicting demands for available facilities. As of 2023, the typical park and recreation agency serves 2,287 people per public park. However, the number of people served per park varies according to the population of the area served by the agency; these form the Park Count LOS goals for the Recreation Master Plan (Figure 13).

Currently, Santa Barbara County serves an average of 2,648 people per park, exceeding typical parks and recreation agencies nationally and indicating that the county needs at least 27 additional parks. Santa Maria Valley and Lompoc Valley currently exceed the Park Count LOS goals by population size. With population growth through 2050, Santa Barbara County would serve 2,998 people per park, which indicates approximately 53 additional parks are needed to achieve the Recreation Master Plan's goals by 2050. By 2050, only Cuyama Valley and Santa Ynez Valley would have enough parks to achieve the Park Count LOS goal, and Lompoc Valley, Santa Maria Valley, and the South Coast would not achieve the Park Count LOS goals.

Figure 14. Average people per key facility. The Recreation Master Plan compares current and future key facility LOS to national benchmarks as goals for long-term planning. Source: NRPA 2023

Key Facility LOS (Total People per Recreation Facility Type). This indicator evaluates whether parks provide enough key recreation facilities to serve demands. A high number could indicate overcrowding. This evaluation could also indicate missing facilities. The number of people served per key facility varies by facility; these form the Key Facility LOS goals for the Recreation Master Plan (Figure 14).

Currently, Santa Barbara County needs soccer and multi-sport fields, tennis and pickleball courts, basketball courts, skate parks, public pools and aquatic facilities, and public gymnasiums. By 2050, Santa Barbara County will also need baseball/softball fields, off-leash dog parks, and playgrounds. These needs are most severe in Santa Ynez Valley, Lompoc Valley, and Santa Maria Valley, although all regions will require different facilities to meet future needs.

Park Access & Availability LOS.

The recreation indicators study also evaluated the accessibility of parks in the county, including how feasible walking to parks is in each recreation planning area and whether parks are accessible via active transportation such as bicycles and public transportation, as summarized below.

Neighborhood Access LOS (Average Population within walking distance of a public park). This indicator compares the walkability of each recreation planning area by estimating the average number of people who live within 1/4 mile of a park, which is a reasonable distance to walk and takes about 15 minutes. A higher number indicates that parks are generally located close to where people live and are more walkable. A lower number indicates that more parks are needed closer to where people live. The most walkable region is the South Coast, where an average of 2,094 people live within 1/4 mile of a park. The least walkable regions are the Cuyama Valley, where no one lives within 1/4 mile of a park, and the Santa Ynez Valley, where an average of 311 people live near a park. A priority should be placed on citing new parks near existing and future neighborhoods to ensure walkability and accessibility in these regions and reduce the need for vehicle trips and travel time to reach recreation.

Figure 15. Average population within walking distance of a public park. The Recreation Master Plan prioritizes citing new parks within 1/4 miles of existing and future neighborhoods.

Active Transportation LOS (Active transportation access to a public park). This indicator assesses each recreation planning area based on how parks serve active transportation facilities, including sidewalks, bike lanes or paths, or public transportation such as transit stops and high-quality transit corridors (HQTC). This evaluation aligns with the  Active Transportation Plan  prepared by the County in coordination with  SBCAG . This assessment helps indicate where improvements to transportation infrastructure could help park visitors use non-vehicular modes to reach recreation. The South Coast has the most parks with sidewalks and bicycle connections to surrounding communities. The South Coast also has the most parks within a HQTC or near transit stops. Cuyama Valley and Santa Ynez Valley have the fewest parks with sidewalks or bicycle connections and no major public transportation serving the parks. Consistent with the Active Transportation Plan, a priority should be placed on extending sidewalks, walking paths, bicycle lanes and paths, and transit services to serve existing and future parks, particularly regional and community parks that host competitive sports and afterschool programs.

Figure 16. Total parks with active transportation infrastructure. The Recreation Master Plan supports extending active transportation infrastructure to serve existing and future parks.

Trail LOS

The County analyzed the  existing trails  to determine the existing and future Trail Level of Service (LOS) in Santa Barbara County and within each of the 5 recreation planning areas. Trail LOS indicators evaluate how trails serve the community. The Recreation Master Plan considers the total miles of local trails (i.e., non-federal and non-state) relative to population countywide and in each recreation planning area. Local metrics are used for trail needs assessment since national benchmarks for similar trail metrics are not currently available and trail conditions vary widely depending on local conditions and jurisdictional boundaries. These local metrics establish current conditions to inform trail planning, including drawing attention to underserved communities. A summary of the Trail LOS metrics used to indicate needs is provided below:

Trail LOS (Miles of trails per 1,000 people). This indicator compares how many miles of trails are available to a population. A low number could indicate overcrowding and conflicting demands for the available facilities. When considering existing Trail LOS in the five recreation planning areas only, Santa Barbara County provides an average of 2.2 miles of trails per 1,000 people and a median of 0.9 miles of trails per 1,000 people. The Recreation Master Plan uses this range to help identify the areas of the county most in need of additional trails and provide an aspirational target for planning purposes. Based on these indicators, Santa Barbara County would benefit from at least 90 more miles of trails primarily in Lompoc Valley and Santa Maria Valley to create similar trail conditions in all recreation planning areas. To maintain this Trail LOS by 2050, 51 more miles of trails would be needed for a total of 141 more miles of trails, including on the South Coast. While these needs are most apparent in Lompoc Valley, Santa Maria Valley, and the South Coast, trails are the most popular form of recreation countywide, and all regions, including Santa Ynez Valley and Cuyama Valley, would benefit from more trails (see  Recreation Surveys and Community Outreach  below).

Recreation Surveys & Community Outreach.

As detailed in the results of the Recreation Surveys, the top 10 new and improved recreation facilities needed countywide include:

Trails for hiking, biking, and riding are the most requested recreation facility in Santa Barbara County

  1. Trails for hiking, biking, and riding
  2. Sports complexes with outdoor fields and courts with indoor sports facilities,
  3. Community pools, aquatic centers, and splash zones
  4. Skateboard and BMX/mountain bike parks
  5. Soccer fields and goals
  6. Basketball courts
  7. Baseball/softball diamonds
  8. Tennis & pickleball courts
  9. Disc golf courses
  10. Campgrounds

When survey results were analyzed based on recreation planning area, several of these recreation needs fell within the top 5 for each (Figure 17). Priorities change by location and unique needs arise on some places, such as volleyball in Santa Ynez Valley and creative/interactive playgrounds on the South Coast. Consistently, trails, sports complexes, and aquatic centers were among the most popular needs in all five regions.

Figure 17. Top 5 recreation needs from recreation surveys in 2022. The Recreation Master Plan supports extending active transportation infrastructure to serve existing and future parks.

Additional Considerations for Park, Trail, and Open Space Planning

Through community engagement, County Parks heard about the needs of specific user groups, including off-leash dog recreation, horseback riding and equestrian recreation, and mountain biking. The popularity of these forms of recreation relates to Santa Barbara County's history, geography, climate, and culture. Often these user groups seek out the same locations, including trails, beaches, and open space areas. These unique needs and the balance between them are recognized in the Recreation Master Plan.

Horseback riding is a popular form of recreation in Santa Barbara County.

Santa Barbara County is a pet-friendly place! Santa Barbara County has 11 off-leash dog parks, including one off-leash beach at Arroyo Burro County Park on the South Coast. There are no dedicated off-leash trails in local parks and open spaces. Further, several open spaces support horse trail riding, including Los Flores Ranch and Ellwood Mesa Open Space, as well as beach riding, but there are no public equestrian facilities, including barns, stables, arenas, or boarding. Santa Barbara County's terrain supports world-class mountain biking, particularly on front country trails of the South Coast and the dirt roads in the Los Padres National Forest, Santa Ynez Valley, Cuyama Valley, and Lompoc Valley. However, no mountain bike terrain parks or dedicated downhill courses exist in Santa Barbara County.

While in most cases, County Parks provides multi-use facilities and aims to support public use by all groups, the safety and enjoyment of all users is a factor for the Recreation Master Plan. Through community outreach, County Parks heard support for recreation that involves dogs, horses, and mountain bikes, though not necessarily together. Through survey results and community engagement, County Parks understands there is a need for facilities that support off-leash dog recreation, equestrian activities and trail riding, and mountain biking.

The County hosts an incredible network of parks and trails that offer recreation and ecosystem service benefits to all who live and play here, but access to these benefits is a challenge for many of the County’s citizens.

Santa Barbara County Conservation Blueprint (2018)

A Plan for Parks, Recreation, & Trails

The Recreation Master Plan includes opportunities for new and expanded parks and trails in Santa Barbara County. As a County Parks plan, proposed park and trail projects lie in the unincorporated area on properties that are either already owned by the County or other public agency or are currently privately owned. Further, the Recreation Master Plan compiles projects from several sources. Some projects are brand-new concepts for existing or future parks developed through the Recreation Master Plan process, including community outreach and interagency coordination. Other projects are long-standing concepts in the County's community plans and Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) waiting for the right mix of funding, planning, and initiative to be realized. Some proposed park and trail projects may be wholly feasible as County Parks' efforts while others require partnerships with other agencies or private landowners. Some projects are straightforward and attainable within the near term (5 to 10 years). Others are complex and require a longer planning timeframe (10 to 20 years). While each proposed project is unique and varies in complexity, vision, location, and users served, the Recreation Master Plan aims to provide the framework and tools needed to support the development of park and trail projects to help meet countywide needs.

The proposed parks and trails in the Recreation Master Plan are presented geographically below in one interactive map tour. The map tour will take you through each recreation planning area to potential sites for new parks and trails. Each "stop" on the tour describes the proposed project, its location (if known), the agencies that would facilitate it, its source, and its estimated timing. Enjoy exploring each potential location and how the project will relate to the existing park and trail inventory!

Pathways to Implementation

County Parks acquires and develops parks, recreation, open space, and trails using a variety of tools, including zoning requirements for new development, Park Development Impact Fees, state and federal grants, and partnerships with trail or conservation groups. In the past, one of the most common tools to acquire new parks and trails has been the dedication of public parkland as part of private development projects, sometimes utilizing supplementary funding. Interagency coordination and public-private partnerships are also critical to negotiating access to public open spaces and providing high-quality recreation facilities.

Park development costs vary but $750,000 per acre to develop public parkland from vacant land already in public ownership is a general estimate, while specialized facilities such as baseball fields, can cost more. For example, a typical baseball field of about three acres could cost up to $2.3 million, including fences, stands, dugouts, and other amenities (County Parks 2023). Specialized facilities such as gyms, pools, or aquatics centers can run into millions of dollars and have ongoing maintenance costs. The cost to develop a mile of new trail can also vary significantly depending on factors like terrain, surface material, amenities, ownership, and location. Natural dirt or gravel trails typically cost between $50,000 and $100,000 per mile while typical paved trails cost between $150,000 and $500,000 per mile. A complex paved trail with bridges and extensive grading could reach over $1 million or more per mile (American Trails 2025).

Implementation of the Recreation Master Plan will include a financial plan that estimates the costs for planning near-term and long-term projects and attributes a potential funding strategy that supports the feasibility and timeliness of each project. This section summarizes several existing and proposed tools available for the acquisition and development of new parks and trails, including the conceptual parks and trails profiled in  A Plan for Parks, Recreation, and Trails .

Recreation Benefit Project Program

One of the Recreation Master Plan’s key strategies is a public-private partnership program called the Recreation Benefits Projects (RBP) Program. This new, innovative program would encourage private landowners to develop and maintain publicly accessible recreation amenities in exchange for incentives, benefits, and assistance from the County. The program creates a framework for formal public-private partnerships between the applicant and the County to address recreation facilities development, management, and maintenance for the long term (i.e., acquisitions and transfers of land and/or assets to public ownership, maintenance and funding agreements, etc.). Looking ahead, the RBP Program would mutually benefit the public and the private project proponent, filling a major gap in the County’s existing toolbox for park and recreation planning.

To be eligible for permitting as an RBP, a proposed project must have a public recreation facilities component and a private use or development component. Eligible RBPs would be processed on a case-by-case basis. The RBP Program is voluntary for private developers. It does not encumber private development with conditions or exactions for public recreation. It also does not dictate how and where private projects are identified or proposed and the County is not the proponent for any project. This approach would ensure that any eligible project has an opportunity to be considered, including locations and recreation needs that emerge over the long-term implementation of the Recreation Master Plan, including in disadvantaged communities and communities with known unmet recreation needs identified by the Recreation Master Plan.

More to read...

To learn more about the RBP Program background information, an overview of the criteria and rules, and guidelines for RBPs to proceed in partnership with the County, click the button below!

Private Open Space Dedication Program

This proposed program would provide the opportunity for undeveloped and underutilized HOA-owned common open space areas that are suitable for public recreation to be transferred to County Parks for development and management as public parks and open spaces. Past development of residential neighborhoods under the DR zoning district commonly results in underutilized and unmanaged open space areas within existing communities, which has occurred in Orcutt, Eastern Goleta Valley, and Mission Hills. Through this proposed program, remnant open space lands could become public parks and trails to better serve existing unmet recreation needs. This program would benefit the public by creating new parks in built-out communities under a public management program, as well as benefit HOAs that struggle with management costs, trespassing, natural hazards, and insurance and tax liabilities associated with maintaining common open space in private co-ownership.

Local Public Funding Sources

Limits to available funding for improvements or development of recreational facilities, as well as for maintenance and provision of services, are a continuing challenge to service providers. However, the potential exists to improve recreational facilities and services through enhanced regional coordination, strategic funding initiatives, and improved staffing to realize recreational goals in local communities. Simply put, recreational amenities and programs are not possible without funding and staff to design, finance, and build the parks, ballfields, trails, and community centers desperately needed in all communities in Santa Barbara County.

Special districts are local government agencies that provide essential services to millions of Californians. Special districts are formed and governed by residents to establish or enhance essential services and infrastructure in their communities. Each special district focuses on providing specific types of services, consistent with state law. It is this focused service that allows for innovation, flexibility, and long-term planning to meet the community’s needs. Ultimately, a special district is a tool for communities that need something done well with local control.

In California, a Parks and Recreation District (District) is a powerful tool available to overcome deficiencies in recreational amenities and programs, as well as coordinated regional leadership and advocacy for recreation and parks. A District would provide a solid source of annual funding distributed to a range of recreation needs throughout the County to support the goals in each community for high-quality and diverse recreation and park amenities. Further, a District would have built-in leadership and representation from all communities within its boundaries to ensure a balance in project and program development to serve unique needs throughout Santa Barbara County.

Santa Barbara County residents fund two special districts specifically to provide parks and recreation. The Isla Vista Recreation and Parks District develops and maintains public parks in the unincorporated community of Isla Vista. The Cuyama Valley Recreation District provides programming and maintenance for public recreation facilities in Cuyama Valley. Other special districts also help fund park and open space maintenance such as the Mission Hills Community Service District, which provides the only public parkland in Mission Hills. Future potential efforts to consider forming a countywide special recreation district would provide a strong funding source to support local parks and trails projects and recreation programs and would require discussion among County and City decision-makers, other recreation providers, and the public.

While a District is a powerful, common, and relatively accessible tool for recreation planning, District formation may not be timely or appropriate, particularly when recreation agencies and advocates are seeking expedited action in a community, or a community’s goals are attainable with a less formal initiative. A District may ultimately be the goal for a community, but other tools are available to continue recreation planning and improvements in the near term while progressing toward a District, including a Joint Powers Authority and benefit assessment districts.

  • Joint Powers Authorities (JPA) are legal entities of two or more public agencies jointly exercising common powers. The Joint Exercise of Powers Act (California Government Code section 6500) governs JPAs. Per state law, JPAs are available to public agencies only, including, but not limited to, the state or state department, public districts, and cities.
  • Community Facilities Districts (CFD) are special tax districts in California that fund public improvements and ongoing services in a specific area, including parks and trails. The Mello-Roos Community Facilities Act of 1982 allows any county, city, special district, school district, or JPA to establish a CFD. CFDs levy a special tax on taxable property within the district boundaries. The special tax levy, secured by the property within the CFD, is the security for any debt issued, including municipal bonds, bank loans, and state funds. A CFD can be initiated by registered voters, landowners, or a legislative body.
  • Benefit assessment districts are financing tools to fund capital improvements and maintenance of public facilities, including specific parks and recreation amenities. Unlike taxes or fees, such as assessments to fund a District, a benefit assessment distributes costs in proportion to benefits. Benefit assessments ensure that the defined group of property owners who use and benefit from the public services, pay for them.

Further, recreation funding may need to be creative and opportunistic while a secure, established funding source (i.e., property assessment) is created through District formation and voter initiatives. Recreational funding can come from unique sources, including transient occupancy tax (TOT) and grant programs. As demonstrated by several examples in California, a creative combination of organizational structures and funding sources provides the means and flexibility to coordinate and plan for recreation with flexibility regardless of whether a District exists or is in the works.

Grant Programs

Grants are used to fund park, trail, and open space acquisition and development. In combination with the local zoning requirements, grants contributed to the acquisition of the County’s Point Sal Reserve, Rancho Guadalupe Dunes County Park, San Marcos Foothill Preserve, Ellwood Mesa-Sperling Open Space, the City of Guadalupe’s recent park improvements, and the Devereux Slough restoration and trail system.

 California State Parks’  grants cover a diverse range of projects, such as the renovation and expansion of local parks’ basketball courts and soccer fields, construction of boat launching facilities on California’s waterways, programs for off-highway motor vehicle safety and environmental education, youth theater programs and the repair of playground equipment. Future grant funding becomes available in cycles, often in response to voter initiatives like the 2024 voter-approved Proposition 4, which dedicates approximately $10 billion for safe drinking water, wildfire prevention, drought preparedness, and clean air with $700 million identified for parks. The projects included in the Recreation Master Plan are strategically aligned with California's  Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Program (SCORP)  to ensure their eligibility for grant funding as opportunities are renewed over the next 20 - 30 years.

Organizational Partnerships

In 2019, County Parks formed the Santa Barbara County Recreation Steering Committee, comprising representatives of all 8 cities, 2 recreation and park districts, and other recreation nonprofit advocacy groups. Under the Recreation Master Plan, the Recreation Steering Committee should continue as a standing committee that works together throughout the year (at least twice annually) to discuss and coordinate improving recreation in Santa Barbara County. The Recreation Steering Committee will continue to identify and pursue opportunities for park development, acquisition, funding, and beneficial partnerships between agencies and recreation interest groups in the recreational needs of our communities. This would include coordinating to:

  • Identify available district- and public agency-owned lands for future parks, recreation, and trail development
  • Facilitate inter-agency trail planning and development
  • Provide support to nonprofit organizations to aid in acquiring land easements for parks and trails
  • Provide support to nonprofit organizations and recreation partnerships through methods such as fundraising for park and trail land/easement acquisition, improvement, and maintenance.

The Recreation Steering Committee would be led by County Parks, with committee composition including, at a minimum, a designated Representative and Alternate from the 8 City parks/recreation departments, Isla Vista Recreation and Parks District, Cuyama Valley Recreation District, Los Padres National Forest, California State Parks, UCSB, and the Chumash Nation, with optional committee members from other special districts (e.g., Mission Hills Community Services District) and nonprofit groups and organizations (e.g., Santa Barbara County Trails Council, Santa Maria Valley Open Space, Elings Park Foundation) as determined at the discretion of the County Parks Director. As a long-term goal of the Recreation Master Plan, the Recreation Steering Committee could serve as the foundation for a future Santa Barbara County Recreation District Board.

Local nonprofit groups can raise funds to purchase property or easements and develop and maintain parks, trails, and recreation facilities. For example, the Land Trust led the acquisition of sites such as the Coronado Butterfly Reserve in Goleta and the protection of Midland School open space in the Santa Ynez Valley. The Montecito Trails Foundation built and maintains over 40 miles of trails in Montecito. The Los Padres Forest Association builds and maintains trails in the National Forest. The Santa Barbara County Trails Council helped the County build the Franklin Trail in Carpinteria and the Orcutt Hills trail system. Lompoc Trails is currently working with County Parks to build the Bodger Trails system south of Lompoc. These and other trail groups help build and maintain trails due to public funding and staffing shortages. County Parks, in coordination with the Recreation Steering Committee, would continue to work closely with local organizations in partnership to acquire and maintain parks, recreation, and trails that meet local needs identified in the Recreation Master Plan.

Strengthen County Parks

Community starts at the park, and the park starts with the people, including the parks and recreation staff that plan, maintain, and upgrade the parks and recreation properties. Funding and staffing are critical to ensure the quality and adequacy of the parks, recreation facilities, and trails serving the community. These metrics also indicate whether capacity exists in existing resources to take on needed park, recreation, and trail projects in the Recreation Master Plan.

The Recreation Master Plan will require substantial long-term effort by County Parks. To implement the Recreation Master Plan, County Parks' responsibilities and resources should expand incrementally over time and in response to new park, trail, and recreation facility development, including grant writing and funding management, enforcing County Parks rules and regulations, managing and operating facilities to generate local revenue, and coordinating with local agencies, partners, and other County departments. This investment reflects County Parks' role as a leader for public parks and trails acquisition, development, and management countywide. Expanding department funding for County Parks could be accommodated through adjustments in the County’s annual budget, additional revenue from planned facilities and programs, private development fees, and new local funding sources (see also,  Local Public Funding Sources ). Additional department funding would be utilized to support the provision or acquisition of additional resources and facilities, including equipment, specialized staff and training, program funding, and the operation and maintenance of existing and proposed facilities such as pools or sports complexes. This support would be bolstered by increased revenue from these high-value recreation improvements, which have user and reservation fees to offset capital and operational costs.

The Recreation Master Plan evaluates the costs, revenues, and staffing of County Parks to understand current operations based on the adopted  2023/24 budget  relative to the County's recreational assets and service populations. Current operations are compared to national benchmarks to indicate how County Parks compares to typical recreation agencies. As the Recreation Master Plan is a County Parks project, only County Parks staffing and funding information was assessed relative to unincorporated populations. This assessment does not consider the operations or service populations of incorporated cities. A summary of County Parks' annual operational information compared to national benchmarks published by the NRPA for 2023 is provided below:

Operating Costs (Expenditures Per Acre of Public Parkland). In 2023/24, County Parks had annual operating expenditures of $19 million. Based on national benchmarks published by NRPA, a typical agency serving a similar population to County Parks spent $7,323 per acre of parkland and non-park sites. In 2023/24, County Parks spent $1,549 per acre of its public parks and non-park sites, including Cachuma Lake Recreation Area which is owned by the federal government but operated for recreational use by County Parks. Excluding Lake Cachuma, County Parks spent $6,955 per acre of public parks and open spaces.

Cost Recovery (Non-tax Revenue as % of Operating Costs). In 2023/24, County Parks revenues were balanced with the operating budget, including $4.1 million (24 percent) in general fund contributions. Based on national benchmarks published by NRPA, a typical agency serving a similar population to County Parks recovered 22 percent of its operating costs through non-tax revenue sources. In 2023/24, County Parks received $10.2 million in revenue from camping, administrative fees, site use/rental, concessionaires, and cabin/yurt rental, contributing 54 percent of annual operating costs. County Parks' primary revenue sources include operations at Cachuma Lake Campground and Recreation Area and Jalama Beach County Park.

Staffing (Total Employees (FTE) and FTE per 10,000 residents). In 2023/24, County Parks employed 62.75 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions. Based on national benchmarks published by NRPA, a typical agency serving a similar population to County Parks employed 121.5 FTE and 8 FTE per 10,000 residents. County Parks is staffed with only 52 percent of the staffing levels typical for similarly sized agencies. Further, County Parks staffing levels provide 4.5 FTE per 10,000 residents in the unincorporated area, which is approximately half of what similar agencies enjoy nationwide.

Sustainable and Resilient Parks

To integrate the Recreation Master Plan with the County's  One Climate Initiative , County Parks will establish a program(s) or adopt specific policies to build sustainability and resiliency features into existing and future recreational facilities. Under this program, park development projects may include sustainability features (e.g., drought-tolerant landscaping, use of recycled water supplies for landscaping, net-zero facilities, sustainable building strategies) and/or features in their design to support the resiliency of our communities, such as emergency shelters, cooling/warming centers, livestock evacuation centers, and other support for County emergency management operations. In addition to supporting the County’s existing commitments to reducing GHG emissions and increasing sustainability and resiliency, sustainable and resilient parks can strengthen grant eligibility and funding acquisition.

Thank you for your review!

County Parks welcomes your feedback and invites you to learn more about the recreation planning process, status, and next steps.  Click here  to visit the County Parks' project website.

Please also visit  www.SBCRecPlan.com  for more information.

List of Preparers

Jeff Lindgren, Deputy Director, County Parks Jill Van Wie, Capital Program Manager, County Parks

Erika Leachman, Principal Planner, WSP Taylor Lane, Planner, WSP Gina Sawaya, Community Engagement Specialist, WSP

Jeff Wilson, Assistant Director, County Planning & Development Tina Mitchell, Planner, County Planning & Development

Ben Sigmund, Principal, Economic Planning Systems

Xiaojian Fan, Associate, Design Workshop

Source: U.S. Census 2019: SBCAG 2018

Outdoor recreation is essential for young people, providing the opportunity for sports and other activities that support life-long health and well-being.

Figure 1. POP Summary. The County's most extensive outreach effort to date for recreation planning resulted in excellent input from a wide range of stakeholders and community members, including nearly 8,000 recreation surveys and 86 workshops and meetings.

An inventory of existing public parks and trails helps inform the Recreation Master Plans assessment of existing recreation service levels and needs in each recreation planning area.

Public parks support sustainable communities with outdoor play, exercise, youth and adult, sports, and community identity.

Figure 6. Summary of Public Parkland Types in Santa Barbara County. The Recreation Master Plan evaluates the existing public parkland in the county as a basis for assessing needs and equitable access to recreation facilities in all recreation planning areas.

County Parks provides two of the 20 public campgrounds in Santa Barbara, including Jalama Beach located on the spectacular coastline of Lompoc Valley

Santa Barbara County has world-class hiking trails that support fitness and exploration of the natural environment for all ages.

Trails in Santa Barbara County support multiple activities, including hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking.

Figure 9. Summary of Trail Types in Santa Barbara County. The Recreation Master Plan evaluates the existing public parkland in the county as a basis for assessing needs and inequitable access to recreation facilities in all recreation planning areas.

Figure 12. Median parkland per 1,000 people by population size. The Recreation Master Plan compares current and future parkland LOS to these national benchmarks as goals for long-term planning. Source: NRPA 2023

Figure 13. Median people per park by population size. The Recreation Master Plan compares current and future park count LOS to national benchmarks as goals for long-term planning. Source: NRPA 2023

Figure 14. Average people per key facility. The Recreation Master Plan compares current and future key facility LOS to national benchmarks as goals for long-term planning. Source: NRPA 2023

Figure 15. Average population within walking distance of a public park. The Recreation Master Plan prioritizes citing new parks within 1/4 miles of existing and future neighborhoods.

Figure 16. Total parks with active transportation infrastructure. The Recreation Master Plan supports extending active transportation infrastructure to serve existing and future parks.

Trails for hiking, biking, and riding are the most requested recreation facility in Santa Barbara County

Figure 17. Top 5 recreation needs from recreation surveys in 2022. The Recreation Master Plan supports extending active transportation infrastructure to serve existing and future parks.

Horseback riding is a popular form of recreation in Santa Barbara County.