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News from the City of Carlsbad | Oct. 23, 2025

This week, the City Council took another major step forward on Veterans Memorial Park by adopting construction plans for the park and giving staff the go-ahead to seek bids from construction contractors — one of the final steps before construction is expected to begin in early 2026. In today’s update, I’ll share what’s planned for the park, along with a behind-the-scenes look at how construction is coming along on the Monroe Street Pool improvements.

Here’s the full lineup:

• Veterans Memorial Park moves closer to construction
• Behind the scenes: Monroe Street Pool construction update
• Tips for protecting your home from wildfires
• Safely dispose of medication at Prescription Drug Take Back Day
• Carlsbad City Library to host 5 ‘thrilling’ authors
• Enjoy Día de los Muertos at Leo Carrillo Ranch
• Upcoming community events
• Where to vote in Carlsbad
• No coastal rail service this weekend
• What’s on the agenda for your next City Council meeting

Veterans Memorial Park moves closer to construction

Located on 93.7 acres near Faraday Avenue and Cannon Road, Veterans Memorial Park has been years in the making and will be Carlsbad’s largest community park. More than half the site is designated as protected habitat and will not be developed. The remainder of the park will have trails and overlooks with panoramic views of the coastline and Agua Hedionda Lagoon.

To improve access to the future park, a companion project includes road improvements along Faraday Avenue. The plan adds new left-turn lanes at the park’s two driveways and updated striping to enhance safety for drivers and bicyclists.

What’s planned for the park

When complete, the park will offer a mix of quiet reflection areas, family gathering spaces and opportunities to get outside and be active, including:



• Veterans Memorial Plaza with six descriptive panels honoring each branch of the U.S. military, a flagpole, a small platform and perimeter seating
• Public art located separately on the upper plateau with panoramic views
• An inclusive playground and open recreational areas
• Picnic areas and family gathering spaces
• A bike park with a nearby shaded plaza and spectator seating
• Outdoor fitness areas and a fitness climb to the upper plateau
• Buildings with restrooms and support space for community events
• Two parking lots with drop-off areas and electric vehicle charging stations
• Connections to the citywide trail network

The park’s design reflects years of community input and a vision to honor military service while creating a welcoming place for everyone to enjoy.

With the City Council’s adoption of the construction plans and specifications on Tuesday, the City Clerk will put the project out to bid and staff will return to the City Council for approval of a construction contract by the end of this year. Once approved, construction is expected to begin in early 2026 and take about two years to complete.

Behind the scenes: Monroe Street Pool construction update

The city is now about one-third of the way through an 18-month project to replace and renovate the Monroe Street Pool, locker rooms and other amenities, with completion expected in late summer 2026.

Here’s a video with a behind-the-scenes peek at the construction underway. 

Recent activities include:



• Excavating the new pool shape and installing underground plumbing
• Pouring concrete for the pool floor, walls and steps
• Completing the foundation and most underground plumbing for the new mechanical equipment building
• Finishing nearly all underground plumbing for the renovated administration building
• Removing the old administration building roof to prepare for a new one
• Constructing walls for the administration building addition

When finished, the renovated facility will feature a larger pool with 50% more lanes and upgrades to nearly every part of the complex, including restrooms, showers, locker rooms, lighting and mechanical systems. New shade structures, deck space and seating will make it more comfortable for swimmers, instructors and spectators alike.

We appreciate everyone’s patience as we make these improvements and will continue to share updates as construction progresses.

Tips for protecting your home from wildfires

As we continue to observe National Fire Prevention Month, let’s talk about wildfire readiness. Earlier this year, Carlsbad updated its Fire Hazard Severity Zone map, classifying areas into moderate, high-risk and very-high risk. I encourage you to check which zone your property is in and take steps to protect your home and loved ones:

• Create defensible space around your house (i.e. trim brush, remove dead plants, maintain clearance, etc.)
• Harden your home with materials like ember-resistant vents, fire-resistant roofing and dual-paned glass
• Choose fire-smart, drought-tolerant landscaping and move flammable species away from structures
• Make a family evacuation plan and sign up for alerts

Need help? Request a home hardening and defensible space inspection through our Fire & Life Safety Division by emailing wildfiremitigation@carlsbadca.gov.

Safely dispose of medication at Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Properly disposing of unwanted or expired medication is another way to help keep our community safe and protect our environment. The City of Carlsbad makes it easy all year long, including at a special event on Saturday, Oct. 25, as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Saturday, Oct. 25

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Safety Training Center

5750 Orion St.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is a twice-a-year observance the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration created to give people a safe way to dispose of unneeded or expired prescription drugs, including opioids, with no questions asked.

Liquids, needles and syringes cannot be accepted at Saturday’s take-back event, but pet medication is allowed.



If you can’t make it Saturday, the city also offers a year-round Prescription Drug Drop Box at the Police & Fire Headquarters at 2560 Orion Way.

Carlsbad City Library to host five ‘thrilling’ authors

With Halloween around the corner, the Carlsbad City Library is turning up the suspense — literary style. Five acclaimed thriller authors will take the stage Monday evening at the Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium to talk about their latest page-turners, answer questions and sign books.

Participating authors are Christina Baker Kline, Anne Burt, Elise Hart Kipness, Jon Bassoff and John Copenhaver. We expect a large audience for this event, so staff will be distributing free tickets on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 5 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 27, 6 p.m.

Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium

Dove Library

1775 Dove Lane

5 p.m. – Free tickets available

5:30 p.m. – Doors open

6 p.m. – Event begins

Learn more about upcoming library events on our website.

Enjoy Día de los Muertos at Leo Carrillo Ranch

Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park will spend the weekend of Nov. 1 and 2 honoring Día de los Muertos, a cherished Mexican tradition that celebrates the lives of loved ones who have passed.

The historic adobe hacienda will be adorned with colorful decorations and a traditional ofrenda dedicated to the Carrillo family. Both days will feature arts and crafts and photo ops, and Saturday will include some special activities like a ballet folklorico performance and a concert.

Día de los Muertos at Leo Carrillo Ranch

Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 1 and 2

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

More community events and activities

While we’re talking about fun things to do, here are some more community events coming up:



• Cinema Club Friday, "The Taste of Mango" – Friday, Oct. 24, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• Trail Volunteer Event – Saturday, Oct. 25, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., Carlsbad Oaks North Business Park Trail
• Front Row Saturday: The Corvelles – Saturday, Oct. 25, 5 p.m., Dove Library
• Reel Wednesday, “Exhibiting Forgiveness" – Wednesday, Oct. 29, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Dove Library
• Halloween Bingo Bash (Adults 50+) – Thursday, Oct. 30, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., Carlsbad Senior Center

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

Where to vote in Carlsbad

Voting is under way for California’s Nov. 4 special election and the City of Carlsbad is hosting ballot drop-off locations and voting centers.



• All three Carlsbad city libraries are among dozens of ballot drop box locations now open throughout the region, set up by the Registrar of Voters. See the registrar’s website for a complete list and hours.
• There will also be three voting centers in Carlsbad opening soon, one on Oct. 25 and the other two on Nov. 1. A voting center works much like the traditional polling places, but you can visit any location that’s convenient. You can find a full list of all voting centers countywide on the Registrar of Voters website.

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 from San Luis Obispo to San Diego due to scheduled maintenance and infrastructure work. You can learn more on the NCTD website by clicking on the COASTER tab at the top of the page. 

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

The next City Council meeting is on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. Topics on the agenda include:

• Adjusting the boundaries for one of the city’s sewer benefit areas, where fees from developers are collected to pay for sewage improvements needed to support the growth in each area
• Accepting a grant from the state to fund the Police Department’s enhanced traffic safety enforcement efforts, including DUI checkpoints
• Appointing one member to the Buena Vista Lagoon Joint Powers Committee
• A proposal to turn a hotel on Avenida Encinas into a 98-unit multi-family rental project
• Options for the Terramar Area Coastal Improvements Project

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 to 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)

The city’s Community-Police Engagement Commission is also scheduled to meet next week. Board and commission meetings are livestreamed on the city’s website and available to watch afterward. You can see the full meeting schedule on our city calendar.

Have a great weekend!

Geoff Patnoe

City Manager