News from the City of Carlsbad | Feb. 19, 2026 | | |
This week, I’ve got two behind-the-scenes videos of projects to enhance our community, from streets in the Village to the athletic field at Poinsettia Community Park.
Here’s the full lineup:
- Poinsettia Community Park turf replacement on track
- New stop signs at State Street and Laguna Drive
- Safer walking and jogging on our roads
- Reminder: E-bike rules go before City Council Tuesday
- Species spotlight: Winter trail icons
- Applications open for Community Arts Grants
- Community events and activities
- No coastal rail service this weekend
- What’s on the agenda for your next City Council meeting
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Poinsettia Community Park turf replacement on track
If you’ve driven by or visited Poinsettia Community Park lately, you’ve probably noticed a lot of activity on the main synthetic turf athletic field. Crews are making good progress on the turf replacement project, which will give the park a refreshed playing surface in time for the busy spring and summer seasons.
The project is replacing the aging synthetic turf with a newer product designed to enhance playing conditions and extend the life of the field.
You can see the latest construction milestones in this video.
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Completed to date
Here’s a snapshot of what crews have finished so far:
- Removed the old synthetic turf
- Graded and leveled the field surface
- Delivered materials and began installing the new field pad and turf
Coming up next
In the weeks ahead, crews will focus on:
- Completing installation of the field pad and turf
- Sealing seams and adding field striping
- Applying the mineral material as a ballast, designed to provide stability and help keep the surface cooler
The field will be replaced with new synthetic turf designed to reduce health and environmental concerns raised about certain synthetic turf products. It will not use crumb rubber pellets as infill between the turf blades and is made without added PFAs, a type of “forever chemical” often used in manufacturing. The old synthetic turf materials will also be recycled.
We’re still targeting a mid-March reopening of the field, weather permitting. We’ll share more details as we get closer to that date. Thanks for your patience while we wrap up this upgrade.
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New stop signs at State Street and Laguna Drive
The city installed new stop signs at the intersection of State Street and Laguna Drive last week to help address community concerns about safety at the intersection. The City Council approved the new stop signs in January, and crews got to work to complete the improvements quickly.
Our team worked during early morning hours to avoid traffic impacts in the area. You can take a look behind-the-scenes in this video.
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Why add stop signs?
- In 2024, a new residential development was built on the west side of the intersection of Laguna Drive and State Street. Its driveway aligns directly with Laguna Drive, effectively adding a fourth leg to the intersection.
- Community members have expressed concerns about limited visibility and traffic speeds near this intersection.
- An all-way stop sign makes it easier and safer for pedestrians to cross State Street and easier for cars trying to cross or turn onto State Street.
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Safer walking and jogging on our roads
Whether you’re walking, biking or driving, we want to make sure you’re as safe as possible.
On that note, I wanted to send a friendly reminder that if you’re out for a walk or a jog on a road without sidewalks, please travel on the side of the road facing traffic. It may seem counterintuitive, but this way you can see cars coming toward you and ensure a safe distance.
If you’re driving, please slow down, put your phone out of view so you’re not tempted to check it and watch out for people walking or biking.
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Reminder: E-bike rules go before City Council Tuesday
If you’re a frequent reader of these updates, you’ve heard about the stricter e-bike rules the City Council will consider officially adopting during next week’s meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Keep reading to the end for more details on the meeting and how to participate.
You can learn more about the proposed e-bike rules and view other safety tips on our Safer Streets Together webpage.
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Species spotlight: Winter trail icons
Speaking of getting outdoors and walking, some of Carlsbad’s most recognizable wildflowers begin appearing in the winter, making it one of the best times to explore Carlsbad’s trails. As a bonus, recent rain and cooler temperatures are bringing hillsides to life with early blooms and fresh green growth that signal the start of wildflower season.
If you head out soon after the rain clears, you’ll spot several familiar flowers and plants that define Carlsbad’s natural landscape.
Early blooms to watch for
Carlsbad wildflowers that begin appearing in winter and continue into early spring are:
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Padre’s shootingstar (Primula clevelandii): This plant blooms late winter to early spring and produces clusters of lavender to white flowers on grassy slopes.
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California poppy (Eschscholzia californica): These bright orange flowers often show up first as scattered pops of color, especially along sunny slopes. Their numbers grow quickly as days get longer.
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Miniature lupine (Lupinus bicolor) and arroyo lupine (Lupinus succulentus): Look for tall flower spikes in shades of pink, purple, blue and white along trails and grasslands where miniature lupine is found in abundance.
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Caterpillar phacelia (Phacelia cicutaria): Look for the coiled lavender flowers on coastal sage scrub-covered hills and in openings along trails.
These early bloomers change week by week, so a trail you walk today may look completely different by your next visit.
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Native shrubland at its greenest
Native shrubland, such as chaparral or coastal sage scrub, is a mix of native shrubs and forbs (flowering plants that aren’t shrubs or trees) that covers many of Carlsbad’s hillsides and preserves. Winter rains also bring this landscape back to life, making it one of the greenest and most vibrant times of year to visit local trails.
This plant community stays green and fragrant during the cooler months, before drying out in summer. Along many trails, you’ll see:
Together, these plants support local wildlife and help stabilize hillsides during the rainy season.
Where to see them
Some of the best winter and early spring views can be found along trails throughout Carlsbad, including:
Many of the plants you see along these trails are protected through the city’s Habitat Management Plan, which guides how Carlsbad preserves and cares for sensitive natural areas. Staying on designated trails helps protect these habitats and allows native plants to continue thriving season after season.
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Applications open for Community Arts Grants
The City of Carlsbad is inviting schools and arts organizations to apply for Community Arts Grants, which support projects and activities that provide quality arts and cultural programming for the Carlsbad community.
This year, more than $117,000 in funds is available through a competitive application and review process. Applicants can submit proposals in one of three categories:
- Arts organizations: arts projects
- Emerging arts organizations
- Educational institutions or affiliated groups
You can apply online through March 27.
A panel of regional arts representatives, nonprofit leaders, education specialists, city staff and community members will review eligible applications.
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Community events and activities
With clearer skies expected in the next few days, it’s a good time to take advantage of these community events and activities happening soon at our city libraries, community centers and the Carlsbad Senior Center:
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Cinema Club Friday: "Sidemen: Long Road to Glory" – Friday, Feb. 20, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library
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Trail Volunteer Event – Hosp Grove West Trail – Saturday, Feb. 21, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., park at Hosp Grove Park
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Front Row Saturdays: Jesse London – The Man and His Music – Saturday, Feb. 21, 5 p.m., Dove Library
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Senior Prom – Wednesday, Feb. 25, 1 to 3 p.m., Carlsbad Senior Center
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Reel Wednesday: "Think Like a Man" – Wednesday, Feb. 25, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library
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No rail service this weekend
A quick reminder from the North County Transit District that there will be no rail service this Saturday and Sunday between the Oceanside Transit Center and Santa Fe Depot in San Diego due to scheduled maintenance and infrastructure work. You can learn more on the NCTD website.
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What's on the agenda for your next City Council meeting
The next City Council meeting will be on Tuesday, Feb. 24, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics include:
- Awarding the contract for a project to make sewer improvements along Poinsettia Lane and in Bressi Ranch
- An agreement to provide consulting services to help the city select the operator of the Palomar Transfer Station
- Continuing the declaration of a storm-related local emergency to make repairs to a damaged storm drain in the coastal bluffs along Carlsbad Boulevard
- Continuing the emergency declared after a water main break at the intersection of Carlsbad Village Drive and El Camino Real
- Awarding the contract for the construction of Veterans Memorial Park and related improvements to Faraday Avenue
- An agreement for a case records management system for the Police Department
- A workers’ compensation settlement
- Adopting an ordinance to implement the City Council’s request to change the frequency of the Community-Police Engagement Commission’s meetings
- Adopting an ordinance to impose new e-bike regulations citywide, including restrictions at Pine Avenue and Poinsettia community parks
- An update on Carlsbad’s economic and financial conditions in the second quarter of the current fiscal year, October through December, along with midyear budget requests
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The results of the city’s internal audit on its procurement processes and related updates to the Municipal Code to improve efficiencies
- A progress report on the implementation of the City Council’s 5-Year Strategic Plan and what is proposed for the fiscal year starting July 1
The agenda and staff reports are available on the city’s website.
3 easy ways to participate
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Sign up to get agendas and staff reports emailed to you directly
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Provide feedback via email to clerk@carlsbadca.gov by 2 p.m. the day of the meeting
- Sign up to speak at the meeting
… and 3 ways to watch
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Follow the meeting live on the city's website
- Watch the meeting live on the city’s cable channel: Spectrum channel 24 or AT&T U-verse channel 99
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Watch a recording of the meeting afterward (online or on our channel)
The City of Carlsbad’s Senior Commission is scheduled to meet next Thursday. Like City Council meetings, board and commission meetings are livestreamed on the city’s website and available to watch afterward. See the full meeting schedule on our city calendar.
Take care and thanks for reading!
Geoff Patnoe
City Manager
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