As we step into spring, I’m thrilled to share some exciting developments that mark a turning point for two of our community’s most beloved spaces: Skypark and the future Town Center.
After years of planning and negotiations, we’ve finalized the purchase of the remaining parcels from the City of Santa Cruz. We expect to officially close on the sale before summer—which means, for the first time, we can begin bringing Skypark and the Town Center together as one seamless community space.
This is a big deal for Scotts Valley.
We’ll start putting that newly acquired land to good use almost immediately. Our signature summer events—Hop & Barley Festival in July and the Scotts Valley Chamber’s Art, Wine & Beer Festival in August—have grown so much in popularity that they’ve officially outgrown the Skypark footprint. With more space now available, we’re opening up a new paseo between the back of the dog park and the pump track. This will connect Skypark directly with the future Town Center site—expanding the possibilities for how we gather, celebrate and build community together.
The dog park fence is being relocated to make that connection possible. And we’re working closely with our event partners on thoughtful layouts for food trucks, parking and entertainment—taking full advantage of our newly expanded acreage while helping preserve the health of our Skypark fields.
Speaking of the fields—soccer season is in full swing, and we’re proud to have the grass in better shape than ever thanks to recent reseeding and improvements. We’re committed to keeping the fields green and healthy through the hot summer months, which means minimizing irrigation shutdowns for events, and enforcing best practices to protect the turf—like avoiding tarps, rugs and plywood on the grass.
Looking ahead, we’re also planning infrastructure improvements to the future Town Center site to support expanded parking and create more durable event space for the entire community to enjoy. But that’s just the beginning.
The long-term vision for this area includes a permanent performance stage, designed for concerts, celebrations and community events, and a dedicated food truck and multi-use area with a more durable surface. These upgrades will mean eventually relocating the dog park and pump track—both of which were originally intended as temporary amenities.
As we move closer to realizing the full potential of our Town Center, we’re launching a Skypark Master Plan process to reimagine what this space can become. That means engaging with you—our community—to gather input on everything from where new amenities should go, to fresh ideas like adding shade to the bocce court or creating new play areas (like the letter I recently received from an elementary school student pushing for a splash pad).
We’ve already gathered great insight from the Citywide Parks Master Plan completed last year. Now, it’s time to focus on Skypark specifically—and this is your opportunity to help shape the future of one of our city’s most vital gathering spaces.
Stay tuned to the City and Recreation’s social media channels and newsletters for updates on how you can get involved in the planning process. We are looking forward to hearing your ideas during the Skypark Master Plan process and see how we bring this shared vision to life together.
Derek Timm is mayor of Scotts Valley. To reach Timm, email dt***@sc**********.gov or call 831-239-9203.
Did the citizens vote for creating a town center? If so, it would be helpful if the Press Banner ran a piece to remind everyone on how we got to this point. If it was voted on by citizens, what was the resulting percentage for and against? Also, a review of the cost and how it will be paid-for would be helpful – mainly to bring those who are relatively new to Scotts Valley up to speed.
My personal opinion is I would rather see the Skypark area remain an open area – just as it is. However, if all of this has been reviewed and approved by the citizens – then let’s move forward.
If the town center project hasn’t been reviewed and approved by voters, perhaps some of the large buildings in Scotts Valley (Seagate and Borland) might provide space for city offices – this assumes the current space needs to be expanded.
Thanks for reading.
Please ignore the last paragraph above – I now understand the Skypark project does not include any town offices – just a gathering place for the public.
Pat