By Matthew Manosh 

Video courtesy County News Service

May 22, 2022 (Spring Valley) -- On Friday, May 13th, the grand opening of the Ildica County Park located at 8604 Ildica St. in Spring Valley took place. The new park is about half an acre and includes a play area, exercise equipment and a 20-plot community garden.

East County News Service

January 1, 2021 (Spring Valley) -- On Friday, Dec. 18, the County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation opened Estrella County Park in San Diego’s Casa de Oro community.

By Michelle Mowad, County of San Diego Communications Office

July 21, 2019 (San Diego) - San Diego County Parks and Recreation on Friday opened four new cabins built to be accessible to people with mobility challenges at Dos Picos County Park in Ramona, making it easier for nature lovers of all abilities to stay overnight.

East County News Service

March 9, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – On Saturday, April 13, Californians will come together to make a difference in state parks across California for the State Park Service’s annual Earth Day celebration. You’re invited to participate in special volunteer projects focused on climate resiliency, or join in a new family-friendly open house.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, top: Carrizo Gorge federal wilderness area

June 29, 2018 (Alpine) – Most visitors to San Diego County head to the beaches or the well-known mountain town of Julian. But the County’s lesser traveled southeast region, known as the Alpine Mountain Empire, includes vast tracts of wilderness, quaint mountain towns, a historic train, museums, Native America reservations, resorts, parks and lakes.

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

November 20, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - Escape the shopping madness of Black Friday on Nov. 24 and discover the upside of outside during County Parks’ Green Friday. You can relax, breathe in the fresh air and maybe work off some of those Thanksgiving dinner calories. You’ll save some green, too. Parking fees will be waived at all County parks.

County Parks is offering several special Green Friday events across the region. They range from coffee with a ranger and a “Work Off the Turkey” boot camp class to exploring a butterfly garden and a sunset hike.

They all take place on Friday, Nov. 24.  Here is a roundup of events:

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

November 24, 2016 (San Diego) - Save green and enjoy the upside of outside with County Parks’ Green Friday events this weekend. The County Parks and Recreation Department has come up with a variety of fun activities starting Friday, Nov. 25 and stretching into Saturday, Nov. 26. Parking, or day-use fees, will be waived on Green Friday so visitors can picnic and play at dozens of parks, and explore 350 miles of trails for free!

By Michelle Mowad, County of San Diego Communications Office

Source:  County News Service

July 31, 2016 (San Diego) - County Parks and Recreation will close four parks in August, a precaution taken each year due to the month’s expected extreme heat.

El Capitan Preserve near Lakeside, Mt. Gower Preserve near Ramona, Hellhole Canyon Preserve in Valley Center and Wilderness Gardens in Pala are closed Aug. 1 through Aug. 31. In addition, Agua Caliente Regional Park near Julian is closed all summer; it will reopen Labor Day weekend.

September 9, 2012 (San Diego) – Parks and Rec has created a camping PSA to be shown in movie theaters and on cable television.  Next time you settle into your seat and juggle your popcorn and your soda, keep your eyes on the giant, silver screen.  Along with reminders to turn off your cell phone, you’ll see a reminder of another sort - how to enjoy the outdoors at our County parks.

March 30, 2012 (San Diego) -- Kids and families will have their choice of enjoying traditional egg hunts, meeting the Spring Bunny, gobbling up a pancake breakfast and just generally having some egg-ucational fun over the next two weekends at County parks in Ramona, Spring Valley,  Cardiff, Del Mar and Encinitas.

“A good egg hunt is a fun spring-time tradition for many families and it’s hard to imagine a better place than an egg-hunt in one of our great parks,” said Brian Albright, director of the San Diego County Department of Parks and Recreation. “They’re the perfect place for the whole family.”