Landmarks

Parma Park

Residents seeking a large open space park close to town may want to visit Parma Park. It is the largest City open space park, encompassing approximately 200 acres of oak woodland and chaparral along Sycamore and Coyote Creeks. Gifted to the Department in 1973, this park is known for its history, habitat, and recreational uses including its popularity as a landing spot for paragliders and hang gliders.

There are five entrances to Parma Park: Stanwood Drive West (main entrance), El Cielito Drive, Mountain Drive South, Mountain Drive North, and Stanwood Drive East.

More than five miles of trails are associated with Parma Park including the Plateau Trail, Creek Trail, Stanwood Trail, and Ridge Trail and dirt fire/access road. A public trail easement also provides access via the Mountain Drive North entrance.

For sweeping views of the City of Santa Barbara, Montecito, and the Santa Barbara Channel Islands, take the Ridge Trail to Rowe’s table. Named for Rowe McMullen, a long-time volunteer who helped establish trails in the park, Rowe’s table is the highest point in the park at 775 feet.

Santa Barbara Bird Sanctuary

The Santa Barbara Bird Sanctuary is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of unwanted, abused, and orphaned companion parrots. In addition, we act as a resource within the community to promote responsible ownership through education and owner support. Our focus is rehabilitation, both in terms of health and behavior, so that adoption into a loving home is possible. For those birds that are not adoptable, it is our goal that they remain safely in Sanctuary for the duration of their lives.

Our Sanctuary is currently home to more than 60 large parrots, many of which have behavioral or medical conditions that prevent them from being adopted. With a lifespan of up to 80 years and the intelligence level of a 3 year old child, these birds require an enormous commitment that the average person finds difficult to fulfill.