Elings Park

Originally created as Las Positas Park, and briefly known as Las Positas Friendship Park, the Elings Park that we know today has had some milestone events in its history.

In January of 1965, the old City of Santa Barbara landfill was deemed to be full and was subsequently closed. Founder Jerry Harwin (Recreation Commission Chairman) Michael Pahos ( City Park Landscaper), Caesar Uyesaka (member of Recreation Commission) and Foster Pratt (member of both Recreation and Park Commissions) met at the site of the closed Las Positas dump to consider the possibility of converting the 97 acre parcel to recreational use. Over the next 15 years, this vision came to be known as "Jerry's Dream".

In the spring of 1965, the search for funds began and Oral Bond, Bill Bertka, Bob Kallman and others joined the pioneers as the first Development Committee to plan an "athletic park". The landscape architectural firm of Royston, Hanamoto, Mayes and Beck was retained to create the original master plan for park development. George Girvin, a junior member of R,H,M&B, who eventually moved to Santa Barbara to start Girvin and Associates, has been involved with the planning of the park since 1965.

By October of 1972, Phase I was completed and the Tennis Court Complex was opened at a cost of $319,721. Today the tennis courts are city facilities and not a part of Elings Park.

In March of 1977, the city Parks and Recreation Commission approved the development of Las Positas Park into a "major sports and recreation complex". The County Board of Supervisors concurred, "with reservations" expressed. The City Council voted to concur with the recommendation of Parks and Recreation.

In July of 1980, the Las Positas Park Foundation received non-profit status and Jerry Harwin was elected as the first President of the Board of Directors. Major contributions for Phase II development were received in 1980, including $1.85 million from the Max C. Fleischmann Foundation and a $3 million pledge from the Godric Foundation. In the early eighties, over $7 million dollars was donated to complete Godric Grove, the Wells Fargo Amphitheater and the upper parking lot (1983), the Sam Battistone lower parking lots (1984) and Singleton Day Camp - now Singleton Pavilion - (1985).

In June of 1983, the first wedding took place in Godric Grove. In December of 1984, the Exxon Cross Country Meet, with 140 participants and 100 spectators, was the first public sporting event to be held in Las Positas Park.

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