Carr Lake | Salinas

Big Sur Land Trust owns 73 acres within the area known as Carr Lake in Salinas, California. The Carr Lake Basin is an approximately 480-acre seasonally dry lakebed in the heart of the city. For decades, local residents have envisioned transforming the land at Carr Lake into a community park. Our acquisition of this 73-acre property at Carr Lake in 2017, was the initial step towards transforming a portion of Carr Lake into an asset for the community that will help address a lack of parks and open space.

We are especially excited that since our first formal community engagement meeting in 2018, over 7,000 residents, members of community groups, and city leaders have advocated to co-create a multi-benefit central park that reflects the heart and spirit of Salinas. Starting in July 2023, the community joined us in an extensive process to name the park. Initially, over 400 names were suggested through online surveys and community meetings. After a naming committee identified the top three choices and 966 people participated in a final online survey, the top choice was Ensen Community Park. Respondents felt it was important to honor the history of the original peoples and their relationship with this land. “Ensen” is an Indigenous word which means blackberry, an important food source for Indigenous peoples in the area known as Carr Lake. The name was suggested by Louise J. Miranda Ramirez, Tribal Chairwoman of the Ohlone/Costanoan-Esselen Nation (OCEN).

Click here or on the image below for an interactive experience of Carr Lake’s complex history and our park project’s progress.

In addition to addressing community needs for open space and parklands, the Land Trust's Ensen Community Park provides multiple environmental benefits including ecological restoration and water quality improvements.

The park is being built in two phases:

• a 6-acre neighborhood park including a playground, a skate park, a basketball court, barbecues, picnic areas, and dog play areas.
• a 67-acre restoration area featuring seasonal wetlands, habitat for wildlife, and recreational trails.

After construction of each phase is complete, the land will be transferred  to the City of Salinas for park operations, with Big Sur Land Trust continuing to support habitat management in the restoration area. 

Salinas is a very special place, and we are fortunate and honored that the community has put their trust in us! The opportunity to work with Center for Community Advocacy along with other partners and residents to plan this park has been an incredibly inspiring learning process for Big Sur Land Trust. This park project is the first of its kind for the Land Trust — a large, ambitious urban greening project that requires a significant amount of funding. 

How you can help
Ongoing support from the community will contribute to Ensen Community Park grand opening expenses and efforts to care for and activate park programming, volunteers, and community partnerships.

Watch our videos below to learn more! Click on the arrows to scroll between videos.