Watsonville's Two Big Parks Are About to Be Open at the Same Time, Briefly

"People hang out here all day long," Nick Calubaquib, Watsonville's deputy city manager and parks director, told KSBW in May while standing in City Plaza. At that point the Plaza was expected to close for its makeover "later this fall." In January, the Pajaronian had reported that the full closure could last nine months to a year and might begin in October.

That closure hasn't happened yet. Watsonville is heading into a few months with an unusual setup. The downtown Plaza is still open for events, and Ramsay Park, fenced off since 2024, is expected back in November. Both of the city's anchor parks could be open together this winter for the first time in more than two years. The arrangement has an end date, though, because the Plaza's big closure is now on the calendar for spring.

The Plaza Got Pushed to Spring

At a September 8 City Council meeting, reported by the Santa Cruz Sentinel the next day, Calubaquib said phase one of the City Plaza Revitalization Project is "nearing completion." He said the city expects to put phase two out to bid in January 2027 and start construction in April 2027. Phase one restores the Plaza's historic features: the gazebo and the fountain. Phase two brings the new landscaping, ADA walkways, picnic tables and a permanent stage. That's the work that requires closing the park.

The gazebo is the centerpiece. William Weeks designed it in 1906. It has been closed to the public since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The plan retrofits its internal structure so it can host performances again. It also adds underground electrical work to support events like holiday lighting.

Funding explains part of the timeline. Calubaquib told the council the city had been "pretty far short of being able to fully fund that project." Measure Q is the countywide $87 annual parcel tax voters approved in 2024. Staff recommended putting $763,252 of the city's Measure Q money toward the Plaza. The council added $40,000 originally meant for a Pinto Lake water quality study, bringing the Plaza's share to $803,252. The project as a whole is around $7 million.

The city hasn't published an official closure date. The newest schedule puts heavy construction in April 2027, not this fall.

What Fills the Plaza Before Then

With phase two pushed back, the downtown fall calendar is happening in its usual places. These city-listed events are coming up, in order:

1. EV Ride, Drive & Display Show, Saturday, Oct. 10, noon to 4 p.m. Free, at the downtown Plaza, held with Pajaro Valley Arts' Second Saturday. The city lists EV test drives, an e-bike demo, mariachi, food and a bike raffle.
2. General Plan 2050 Open House, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free, in the Civic Plaza Community Rooms on the fourth floor of 275 Main St. Topics include parks and conservation, mobility, land use and the airport.
3. Downtown Candy Crawl, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2 to 6 p.m. Free trick-or-treating for kids 13 and under at City Plaza Park and Main and Peck streets. No preregistration.
4. Día de los Muertos at the Main Library, Thursday, Oct. 29, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. At 275 Main St., Suite 100, with an art display, lotería, a scavenger hunt, a photo spot and free pan dulce.
5. Calles Libres/Open Streets, Sunday, Nov. 1, noon to 4 p.m. A free, car-free event inspired by Día de los Muertos at Callaghan Park and Brennan Street, with music, dance, art and room to walk, bike and roll.

The Watsonville Farmers' Market is still listed for Friday afternoons at the downtown Plaza. One listing gives hours of 2 to 7 p.m. and another says 2 to 9 p.m., so check with the market before planning a late visit.

The Plaza has a preview of its future on display. Kathleen Crocetti is making four interactive murals, one for each corner of the park, each representing a culture that's part of Watsonville. She explained the title she chose:

"The title of the whole piece is Pageantry and Performance, because that's what happens in our plaza. People come out in costume and dance traditional dances in traditional costume."

Crocetti was originally awarded the mosaic for the new stage. She asked the city to open it to other artists, telling KSBW "there's enough of me here in the plaza." When phase two is finished, the permanent stage means groups that hold annual events downtown will no longer need to rent a temporary one.

Ramsay Park's Opening Date Moved Three Times

Ramsay Park's schedule went the opposite way. When ground broke in May 2024, KSBW reported completion was expected in 2025. The city's own FAQ said fall 2025. In March 2026, a staff report moved it to summer 2026 after a 168-day extension. The delays it listed were unforeseen backstop conditions, a switchgear redesign, playground slide installation conflicts and gas line conflicts. The latest estimate, from September, is November. Calubaquib told the council the park would open again "in just less than a couple of months."

No ribbon-cutting date has been announced, so November is still an estimate. The price has grown along with the schedule. It was a $33 million project at groundbreaking in 2024, and an August 2026 Parks and Recreation Commission staff report put it at $34 million. That same September council vote also funded two full-time and two seasonal maintenance workers for the reopened park, at $101,060 for this fiscal year.

What's Behind the Fence

The new features are aimed at everyday use:

• Sotomayor Soccer Field, renovated with natural turf, new irrigation, terraced concrete seating, fencing and lights
• A synthetic-turf multi-use field for softball and soccer, with permanent striping for both baseball and soccer
• An inclusive playground with slides, swings, spinning features and musical and sensory elements. The park's existing aluminum slide is being moved into it.
• Separate small-dog and large-dog areas. The dog park received state Prop. 68 per capita grant funding.
• Upgraded trails, parking and accessible routes, plus a renovated restroom at the Main Street parking lot with new fixtures, partitions, doors and skylights

The pump track, skatepark and tennis court were already there. The city's FAQ said they would stay open during construction.

The Nature Center is the one piece not to count on yet. Bids for the original new building came in over budget, so the city switched to renovating the existing Family Center and setting aside about half of its 7,000 square feet for the Nature Center. Selden & Son won the $1,448,400 contract for that work, paid for with Measure R funds. Bids were opened April 14, 2026. The exhibits are a separate project with Watsonville Wetlands Watch, to be bid and grant-funded on their own.

The Overlap Window, and What to Eat on the Way

If Ramsay reopens in November and the Plaza closes in April, the city will have both parks open for a few winter months. The Plaza is then expected to be closed for most of a year. The original estimate was nine months to a year. That makes this year's holiday season the last one on the Plaza before phase two.

A few nearby stops fit a weekend built around either park. Melo Bread bakes Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 532 Main St., in the former Miramar space a short walk from the Plaza. Out at the Watsonville Municipal Airport, chef-owner Tim Wood opened Woody's at 100 Aviation Way in June. Check current hours before you go. Apple season is underway at Gizdich Ranch, 55 Peckham Road, with U-pick on weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. U-pick is card only. The ranch hasn't posted an end date, so call ahead before a November visit.

The newest schedules say the city should have its renovated sports fields, dog areas and inclusive playground at Ramsay, and its 1906 gazebo restored downtown, before the Plaza closes in spring.

At Jennifer Gilberg, we keep up with projects like these because they shape everyday life in Watsonville. If you'd like to talk through how the Plaza and Ramsay Park timelines fit your plans for the year ahead, Schedule a Free Consultation and we'll walk through the local details with you.