Anna Jean Cummings Park facts for kids

Anna Jean Cummings Park is a large park in Santa Cruz County, California. It covers about 95 acres (38 ha) (which is like 72 football fields!). The park opened in the summer of 2001. It was built on land that used to be a ranch called O'Neill Ranch.

The park is sometimes known for its unique art. This art is called "Skyballs" and was created by Steve Gillman and Katherine Keefer. It features four big, sky-blue balls, each about 8 feet wide. They look like they are rolling down a grassy hill.

What Can You Do at the Park?

Anna Jean Cummings Park has different areas for fun and nature.

Lower Park Area

The lower part of the park is great for relaxing and playing.

• It has a big grassy lawn.
• There's a picnic area where you can eat with friends and family.
• Kids can enjoy a playground.
• Restrooms are available for visitors.

Upper Park Area

The upper part of the park is perfect for sports and exercise.

• It has fields for baseball, softball, and soccer. These fields have natural grass.
• More restrooms are located here.
• There's a path for walking or jogging. This path goes all the way around the sports fields.

Nature and Wildlife

A big part of Anna Jean Cummings Park is natural open space. This area includes rare coastal prairie, grasslands, and areas near streams. These natural spaces are important for local plants and animals.

The park has a network of trails for exploring. You can walk through these trails and enjoy nature. Scientists have even seen rare and endangered species living in the park. This shows how special the park's natural habitats are.

Who Was Anna Jean Cummings?

The park is named after a special person, Anna Jean Cummings. She was very important in protecting land in Santa Cruz County. Anna Jean Cummings used to be the executive director of the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County. This organization works to save natural lands and open spaces for everyone to enjoy. Naming the park after her honors her efforts to protect the environment.