Santa Barbara Removes Ortega Park Benches to Mix Reactions From Residents

Picnic tables and benches were removed from Ortega Park in Santa Barbara’s Eastside two weeks ago.

In the last few months, Santa Barbara’s Park and Recreation Department received many complaints of illegal activity in the park.

“We’ve been experiencing drug dealing and individuals spending inordinate amount of time and leaving trash and debris throughout the park,” said Jill Zachary, the director of park and recreation.

The department sent out a clean-up crew who picked up the litter at Ortega Park. The director says the cleaning was a sign for frequent park visitors of the impending fixture removal.

An Eastside resident spoke up about the change. He says the city removed the picnic area as an effort to push them out.

“The city really doesn’t care if they take this park away from us, it’s crazy and it makes no sense why they did this,” said Craig Gilbert, an Eastside resident.

There are community members who support the change.

“I hope they make it better for everybody. It’s kind of a sad thing to see, but it’s alright. It has to get better, can’t get no worse,” said Joseph Rodriguez.

However, there are people who grew up in the Eastside and have memories linked to Ortega Park.

“I grew up here in Santa Barbara and I’ve had birthday parties here, soccer games and other sports here so this park is very special to me,” says Michael Montenegro, an Eastside resident.

Montenegro says he spent much of his childhood at Ortega Park. Now in his adult years, he rides his bike through the park often. He recently noticed the dramatic change in the park’s picnic area.

“Next thing you know, I see this picnic just empty,” said Montenegro.

He says the city didn’t give him notice of the removal.