Seaside Park (Ventura) facts for kids

Seaside Park is a fun place in Ventura, California, where many events happen. People often call it the Ventura County Fairgrounds. This large area, about 62 acres, is home to the famous Ventura County Fair. All year long, you can find different events here, like shows, concerts, and festivals. The park is right by the beach, near where the Ventura River meets the ocean. It also has a special spot called Surfers' Point, known for its amazing waves that surfers love.

The land for Seaside Park was given to Ventura County by Eugene Preston Foster and Orpha Foster. They imagined it as a smaller version of Golden Gate Park. The Fosters wanted a beautiful entrance to Ventura where families could walk, have picnics, play tennis, and enjoy time together. Today, the State of California owns most of the park. It is managed by the 31st District Agricultural Association, which is a state agency.

What Happens at Seaside Park?

The Fairgrounds

Ventura County Fair sign

The 31st District Agricultural Association helps run the fairgrounds. This group is part of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. A special board sets the rules and plans for the fairgrounds. Members of this board are chosen by the governor of California. They are in charge of the yearly Ventura County Fair. They also run the Derby Club, where people can watch and bet on horse races live on TV.

Many different events take place at Seaside Park throughout the year. These include big shows, meetings, music concerts, and fun festivals. The park has buildings for conventions and halls for demonstrations. It also has places for horses, including a very large arena. Even though the old race track is gone, the Ventura Raceway still uses the fairgrounds when the fair is not happening.

Fun for Everyone: Public Recreation

Surf Check parking sign

Outside the fairgrounds, there is a path called the Omer Rains Bike Trail. It runs along the beach and the river. This path connects San Buenaventura State Beach to the south with Emma Wood State Beach to the north. It is part of the Pacific Coast Bicycle Route and the California Coastal Trail. Surfing is very popular here because of the special waves at Surfers' Point.

History of Seaside Park

Eugene P. and Orpha Foster dreamed of creating a park like a small Golden Gate Park. This was because John McLaren, who designed Golden Gate Park, was a friend of their family. They gave 65 acres of land to Ventura County to start the park. Later, they added another 14 acres. They wanted the park to be a lovely place for families to visit.

Past Uses of the Park

John J. Coit's miniature train at Seaside Park.

Around 1901, a man named John J. Coit built and ran a miniature train at Seaside Park. This train had a very unusual track width. The train engine was designed by Coit himself. After a short time, he moved some of his train equipment to another railway.

For many years, a baseball field called Babe Ruth Field was located where the main parking lot is now. This field was home to professional baseball teams like the Ventura Braves, Ventura Yankees, and Ventura Oilers.

Modern Projects and Changes

In 2011, the popular bike and walking path at Seaside Park was moved further inland. This was part of a project to help protect the coast from rising sea levels. Fair officials first wanted to build a hidden wall to protect the path, which had been damaged since it was built in 1989. However, surfers strongly disagreed. They worried that a wall would ruin the special waves at Surfers' Point. Environmental groups also thought it would harm the natural areas and cause more erosion on nearby beaches.

Images for kids

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  Ventura County Fair sign

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  Surf Check parking sign

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  John J. Coit's miniature train at Seaside Park.