View as Webpage

News from the City of Carlsbad | July 17, 2025

From completing renovations at Alga Norte Aquatic Center to opening the first community garden in south Carlsbad at Stagecoach Park, it’s already been a big year for Carlsbad parks and recreation. So, in honor of Park and Recreation Month, we’ve put together a video calendar with highlights from the year so far and a peek at what’s still to come.

I’ll also share details about Friday’s TGIF concert and preview the new exhibit opening later this month at the William D. Cannon Art Gallery. Here’s the full lineup:

• Bringing new life to parks across Carlsbad
• Still time to give input on Barrio traffic circles 
• Groove with The Cold Fact at Friday’s TGIF concert
• Halfway through our Summer Reading Adventure
• New exhibit opens next weekend at Cannon Art Gallery
• Local groups help keep libraries and arts thriving
• Community events and activities
• Plan ahead to avoid delays
• What’s on the agenda for your next City Council meeting

Bringing new life to parks across Carlsbad

With Park and Recreation Month in full swing, we put together a video to highlight several park and pool projects happening around the city.

These improvements showcase the behind-the-scenes collaboration that keeps Carlsbad running smoothly. Parks & Recreation and Public Works staff coordinate to move these projects from initial planning and design through construction and, ultimately, long-term maintenance. It’s this collaborative Team Carlsbad approach that helps bring each project to life.

Here’s a quick snapshot of where things stand:

• Alga Norte Aquatic Center renovations – We reopened the facility in early March (just in time for spring) after crews replastered the pools, repaired locker rooms and restrooms and upgraded the spa.
• Stagecoach Community Garden – We opened the city’s fourth community garden in April. It includes 35 raised planter beds, compost bins, tool storage and a shaded picnic area.
• Alga Norte Aquatic Center splash pad resurfacing – Crews installed a fresh new surface in early June, complete with aquatic life designs, just in time for summer fun.
• Poinsettia Dog Park grass replacement – Finished earlier this month, the large dog area now has fresh new grass for use, and the small dog area is just growing in.
• Monroe Street Pool improvements – The pool closed at the end of March for a major 18-month renovation project. When it reopens (anticipated late summer 2026), it will feature a larger pool with more lanes, an expanded deck with shade and seating, updated locker rooms and restrooms and new energy-efficient systems.
• Veterans Memorial Park – The city’s largest future park is under final permitting review and moving closer to construction, which is anticipated to begin in late 2025.
• Robertson Ranch Park – Work is moving forward on the environmental review and required land-use approvals, with the design that the community helped shape.
• Outdoor pickleball courts – The development of construction plans continues for eight new courts, with four each at Calavera Hills and Stagecoach community parks to meet growing demand for the sport.

These projects reflect the city’s commitment to keep parks welcoming and enjoyable— while delivering on key goals in the City Council’s 5-year Strategic Plan to strengthen community character, connect neighborhoods and support a high quality of life.

Still time to give input on Barrio traffic circles 

At its July 29 meeting, the City Council will consider whether to move forward with a project that would install traffic circles at five intersections in the Barrio, or explore different ways to reduce speeding. 

I also shared details about this project in last week's update, but in case you missed it, here is a quick recap:

• The concept for the project was originally proposed in 2016 as part of the Village and Barrio Master Plan, with the overall goal of improving traffic safety and walkability. 
• Since then, there have been several changes to state laws around housing and parking that have impacted the Barrio, and the city has received new community feedback about traffic circles and roundabouts.
• Given these changes and concerns about parking loss and potential impacts on emergency response times, the City Council wanted to give the community another opportunity to provide input before making a decision.

Complete the online feedback form by July 24

So far, more than 200 people have completed our online feedback form. If you’ve already completed the form or sent us an email – thank you! If not, there is still time.

There are three ways to share your opinion:

• Complete the online feedback form by Thursday, July 24
• Email comments to clerk@carlsbadca.gov by 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29
• Attend the City Council meeting and provide comments in person 

City Council meeting 

Tuesday, July 29, 2025, 5 p.m. 

City Council Chamber 

1200 Carlsbad Village Drive

Groove with The Cold Fact at Friday’s TGIF concert

Tomorrow is your last chance to catch a concert at Stagecoach Community Park this season before the TGIF summer concert series moves over to Calavera Hills Community Park next week.

This Friday, enjoy the soulful R&B sounds of The Cold Fact. This award-winning band will light up the stage with an unstoppable blend of funk, R&B and psychedelic rock with tight grooves, soaring vocals and fiery energy.

Friday, July 18

Field opens at 4 p.m.

Concert starts at 6 p.m.

Stagecoach Community Park

3420 Camino de los Coches

Heading to the concert? Here are a few helpful tips:

• Visit the pop-up art booth near the eastern security entrance from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. to build clothespin puppets and then put your new creations to use in our own puppet theater.
• Limited free parking is available across the street at La Costa Canyon High School. Free bike valet service is available at the park. 
• You can set up blankets and low-back chairs (which sit lower than 8 inches from the ground) for your group starting at 4 p.m. Please only take the space that you need. Seating is limited.
• Wondering what you can bring? See a list of the items that are allowed in the parks and what to leave at home.

Halfway through our Summer Reading Adventure

We’re a little past the halfway point in our Carlsbad Library Summer Reading Adventure and already about 2,000 people have collectively logged 1 million minutes of reading.

It’s not too late to join this year’s challenge, which runs through Aug. 10. It’s easy to register online and start tracking your progress.

Not only is reading a great way to keep young (and older) minds active and engaged, but Summer Reading Adventure participants can earn some fun rewards (while supplies last).

Children in sixth grade and under can get a free book by going to the children's section of their local library location and sharing their recent reads with one of our friendly volunteers.

As part of the Summer Reading Adventure, all three Carlsbad City Library locations are hosting special events and activities over the next few weeks to encourage a love of reading. See the full schedule on our website.

New exhibit opens next weekend at Cannon Art Gallery

The latest exhibit at the city’s William D. Cannon Art Gallery opens next Friday, July 25, examining the storied overlap between printmaking and textiles.

Called “Printed & Stitched,” the exhibit features 58 original artworks created by members of the California Society of Printmakers and Studio Art Quilt Associates of California & Nevada. The exhibit runs through Oct. 28.

Printed & Stitched

Cannon Art Gallery

1775 Dove Lane

Tuesday through Thursday: noon to 5 p.m.

Friday: noon to 7 p.m.

Saturday: noon to 5 p.m.

Sunday: 1 to 5 p.m.

You can visit any time during the gallery’s normal hours and are also invited to attend a free reception on Aug. 16 to celebrate the new show with refreshments and live music.

William D. Cannon Art Gallery

Saturday, Aug. 16

3 to 5 p.m.

Cannon Art Gallery

1775 Dove Lane

Local groups help keep libraries and arts thriving

As you read about all these summer programs and exhibits I want to recognize the generous community organizations that help make many of these activities possible.

Recently, the City Council accepted more than $360,000 in donations from three groups that support Carlsbad’s Library and Cultural Arts Department:

• Carlsbad Library & Arts Foundation: Donated $235,116 to support programs at the Schulman Auditorium, library materials and services at the Library Learning Center, exhibits and education programs at the Cannon Art Gallery, and a new outdoor musical sculpture at Cole Library.
• Friends of the Carlsbad Library: Contributed $100,000 to fund a variety of programs, including activities for children and teens, technology workshops, mindfulness programs and the annual Carlsbad Reads Together and Summer Reading Adventure events.
• Carlsbad Friends of the Arts: Donated $25,000 to support TGIF Concerts in the Parks and other cultural arts programs.

These contributions, made possible through community fundraising and memberships, help keep Carlsbad a place where residents can enjoy arts, culture and lifelong learning.

Community events and activities

Here are some City of Carlsbad events and activities coming up soon at our libraries, community centers and the Carlsbad Senior Center.

• Cinema Club Friday, "The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters" – Friday, July 18, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• The Art of Letting Go (adults 50+) – Wednesday, July 23, 1 to 2 p.m., Carlsbad Senior Center
• Reel Wednesday, “The Lost Boys" – Wednesday, July 23, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library

Find more activities and information in our city calendar, the Senior Center’s Seaside Insider newsletter and our Summer Community Services Guide.

Plan ahead to avoid delays

Whether you’re heading to one of these community events or commuting, don’t forget to check the city’s construction map each week to see where large city projects are happening that could impact traffic. Remember, the map only shows city projects. It doesn’t include construction projects by local utilities, private companies or other agencies.

What’s on the agenda for your next City Council meeting

The next City Council meeting is Tuesday, July 22, starting at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics on the agenda include:

• An update of the city’s Sewer System Management Plan 
• Rejecting the bids the city received for a project to upgrade sewer access holes in the Ponto area 
• Authorizing bidding for a project to install a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning system at the Heritage Hall auditorium at the Harding Community Center 
• Extending agreements with two construction management companies so that they can complete their work on two ongoing city projects
• Buying a housing unit originally sold by a developer as affordable housing so it can then be resold to an eligible lower-income buyer as part of the city’s efforts to increase the amount of affordable housing in Carlsbad
• An agreement for the use of data visualization software to inform the city’s decision-making
• The costs of the annual program to eliminate the fire hazards of dry weeds and rubbish on vacant lots around the city 
• The annual report and work plan for the city’s Housing Commission 
• The Sage Creek High School Safe Routes to School Plan, which will make improvements to Cannon Road, College Boulevard and Bobcat Boulevard 
• A new online dashboard displaying the city’s progress in meeting the greenhouse gas reduction goals in its Climate Action Plan 

The agenda and staff reports are available on the city’s website.

3 easy ways to participate

1. Sign up to get agendas and staff reports emailed to you directly
2. Provide feedback via email at clerk@carlsbadca.gov by 2 p.m. the day of the meeting  
3. Sign up to speak at the meeting

… and 3 ways to watch

1. Follow the meeting live on the city's website 
2. Watch the meeting live on the city’s cable channel: Spectrum channel 24 or AT&T U-verse channel 99
3. Watch a recording of the meeting afterward (online or on our channel)

Board and commission meetings are also livestreamed on the city’s website and available to watch afterward. You can see the meeting schedule on our city calendar.

Enjoy your weekend and thanks for reading!

Geoff Patnoe

City Manager