Elizabeth Léka

San Marcos High School’s new mural, a collaboration between students and local artist Michael Matheson, celebrates the community.  

Taking about two weeks to complete, this art piece spans the 16-by-185-foot wall of the upper basketball court on campus.

Parma Park, almost 200 acres of open space in Santa Barbara’s foothills, is open again after an extensive renovation project for its existing trails, and is now home to three new ones. 

The new Historic Olive Grove Loop and Plateau Trail and renovated Coyote Creek Trail add 3 miles to the trail network. The Plateau Trail is easily accessible through the El Cielito or South Mountain Drive entrances, while the other two can be found deeper into the park.

Refugio State Beach, which has been closed for months after storm damage, is expected to reopen later this summer. 

El Capitán State Beach and Gaviota State Park were also damaged in February storms but managed to reopen by April.

The Santa Barbara Zoo’s new conservation hub is home to immersive experiences, combining hands-on education with entertainment. 

The zoo celebrated the opening of the Richard Block Conservation Hub on July 25.

Cast members went through 40 hours of training to guide guests through activities such as packing a backpack for a day in the field, checking Channel Island foxes for microchips, and examining California condor egg development.