Regional Parks commemorates 60 years with year-long celebrations

For 60 years, San Bernardino County Regional Parks has focused on offering local communities, residents, and visitors from all over the globe the opportunity to experience the history, culture and natural resources of the county ranging from the Chino Basin to the high desert. Supported by the Board of Supervisors, the Regional Parks department envisions an eco-friendly, well-maintained, self-supporting park system through the provision of innovative amenities and a wide array of community programs.

Regional Parks is excited to kick off its 2024 diamond year celebration with the launch of an anniversary logo, park passport, extended park hours beginning in July, scheduled events at all parks and the grand openings by this summer of a new waterslide and splash pad at Glen Helen Regional Park, a new playground and splash pad at Prado Regional Park and the completion of the Phase III extension of the Santa Ana River Trail from San Bernardino to Redlands.

Regional Parks’ anniversary celebration will begin at Calico Ghost Town in Yermo at its annual California Days weekend event on Feb. 17-18, which celebrates early California history and coincides with National California Day celebrated every year on Feb. 22. The event is a family-friendly with a focus on the early times of the statehood with educational displays on the state’s Bear Flag, Pony Express Trail and the Butterfield Overland Trail along with family activities, gunfighter reenactments, live music, food and crafts, pony rides and more.

The department’s mission is to provide residents and visitors with opportunities to participate in diverse recreational activities and events. To promote the diamond year, Regional Parks is launching an anniversary passport, promoting year-long events. Visitors can obtain a free passport at any participating park (or online) and receive a stamp for visiting either a park or event listed on the passport. In December, passports with five stamps can be redeemed at any participating park for a free 60^th anniversary commemorative gift.

“We are excited about the opening of our new amenities, planned events at each park and the launch of our passport program that kicks off our diamond anniversary year. Each park will provide an opportunity for everyone to celebrate 60 years of outdoor recreation in San Bernardino County,” said Beahta Davis, Director of Regional Parks.

Along with planned extended hours beginning in July, several exciting events will be offered throughout the year to include:

March: Easter Sunday celebrations at all parks on March 31
April: Mojave River Forks Stargazer Night on April 27
May: Mojave Narrows Spring Fling on May 25
June: Prado Family Fish & Wildlife Festival at Prado on June 8
July: Glen Helen Swim Facility Fun Night on July 27
July: Lake Gregory Fourth of July celebration on July 3
August: Yucaipa Hot August Nights on Aug. 10
September: Cucamonga-Guasti Great Outdoors on Sept. 14
October: Calico Ghost Haunt on Oct. 18-20 and Oct. 25-27
November: Big Morongo 60^th anniversary celebration (date TBD)
December: Passport Redemption at all participating parks

For more information on Regional Parks’ 60^th anniversary celebration video, news and events, visit parks.sbcounty.gov/60-year-anniversary.

The San Bernardino County Regional Parks department was established by the Board of Supervisors in 1964 and operates nine regional parks, one regional trail and one preserve throughout San Bernardino County, totaling more than 8,000 acres that span from the Chino basin to the high desert, offering open spaces rich in natural and cultural landscapes and welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Regional Parks include Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, Calico Ghost Town (Historical Landmark No. 782), Cucamonga-Guasti, Glen Helen, Lake Gregory, Mojave Narrows, Mojave River Forks, Prado, Santa Ana River Trail and Yucaipa. Regional Parks offer many activities, such as camping, fishing, picnicking, swimming, hiking, pedal boating, kayak boating (Mojave Narrows only), disc golf courses, horseshoe pits, horseback riding trails, playing fields, bird watching and more. Amenities include tent and RV campsites with dry and full hookups, RV rentals, and bunk house rentals (Calico only). Also available are sheltered group picnic facilities accommodating up to 350 people, swim complexes with waterslides, zero-depth water play parks, playgrounds, and a multipurpose room equipped with kitchen as a rental (Prado only). At Lake Gregory, the San Moritz Lodge is available as a rental for weddings or meetings. For more information about all Regional Parks events, activities, amenities or for camping reservations, visit parks.sbcountry.gov or follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

Additional County Update News – February 1, 2024