Neighbors Seek to Reclaim Santiago Park in Santa Ana
Illustration by Pete Ryan
Santiago Park in Santa Ana is a half-wild, sun-dappled strip of green that straddles Santiago Creek from Main Street to the 22 Freeway. The park, with its 1930s stonework and ancient trees along the riverbed, provides a charming refuge from the nearby Orange Crush, one of the busiest freeway interchanges in the nation.
This month, the public is invited to visit the romantic park, spreading out blankets for a special, COVID-19-era Valentine’s bring-your-own picnic. The theme is Winter of Love, with music from the Summer of Love era piped in think Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, Joni Mitchell, the Rolling Stones. We finally get to wear our bell-bottoms and tie-dye.