New Brighton State Beach facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New Brighton State Beach |
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 New Brighton State Beach
Location in California
New Brighton State Beach
Location in the United States
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| Location | Santa Cruz County, California |
| Nearest city | Capitola |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
New Brighton State Beach is a fun park in California. It has a beautiful beach and places to camp. The park is about 95 acres big. You can find it near Capitola, a town east of Santa Cruz. It's right off Highway 1 on Park Avenue.
New Brighton State Beach is next to Seacliff State Beach. Seacliff is famous for its fishing pier. It also has a sunken concrete ship called The Palo Alto. From New Brighton beach, you can see Soquel Cove and the wide Monterey Bay.
Contents
Discovering New Brighton's Past
Early Days: China Beach
Long ago, this beach was called China Beach. Chinese fishermen came here in the 1850s and made it their home. These fishermen were very important. They helped build California's railroads. They also provided food and workers for the Santa Cruz area.
Later, in the 1870s, other fishermen arrived. Many Chinese residents had to leave the area. A law called the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 made things harder. By 1900, the fishing village was gone. Only a few small signs of it remained.
From Camp San Jose to New Brighton
In the late 1870s, a man named Thomas Fallon started a small resort. He was an immigrant from Ireland. He had also been the mayor of San Jose. He named his campground Camp San Jose. He hoped to attract tourists from San Jose.
But the name didn't work as he hoped. So, in 1882, Fallon changed the name. He renamed the campground New Brighton.
Becoming a State Park
In 1933, the state of California bought the land. This was where China Beach used to be. The state wanted to turn it into a state park. For many years after buying it, the land didn't have a name. Eventually, the Director of State Parks named it New Brighton State Park.
Amazing Wildlife at the Beach
Ocean Creatures and Fish
The rocky shores of New Brighton Park are home to many animals. You can find mussels, sea stars, and barnacles. Look for rock crabs, sea anemones, and ocean worms too. Many kinds of fish live around the pier. These include flounder, sole, and halibut. You might also see mackerel, lingcod, and jacksmelt. Other fish are cabezon, anchovy, perch, and kingfish. Steelhead and salmon also swim here.
Marine Mammals and Birds
Other animals that live in the park are pelicans, dolphins, and sea otters. You might spot sea lions playing in the water. Migrating whales also pass by. In summer and early fall, thousands of sooty shearwaters fly north. These seabirds come from far away places like New Zealand. They fly over the ocean in figure eights. They are hunting for anchovies to eat.
Plants and Trees
Tall grasses and scrubby plants grow along the beach. The park is surrounded by different kinds of trees. You'll see oak trees, Monterey cypress trees, and eucalyptus trees. Soaring pine trees also grow here. Wild berry vines can be found around the campsites.
Weather at New Brighton Park
New Brighton Park is on the coast of Santa Cruz County. The weather here is usually mild. The average high temperature is about 69°F (20°C). The average low temperature is around 45°F (7°C). This area gets about 29 inches (74 cm) of rain each year.
Park Facilities and Fun
New Brighton Park has a visitor center. It has exhibits and educational programs about local wildlife. Other helpful facilities are restrooms and showers. Lifeguards are on duty to keep everyone safe. There are also picnic areas for meals. You can use fire pits for campfires. A dump station is available for RVs. The park has over one hundred campsites. You can bring a tent or an RV to stay here.
