Three years after winter floods surged through Pajaro, damaged homes and businesses and severely damaged Pajaro Park, a group of elected officials and community members gathered to celebrate the completion of renovations that included sites throughout the community.
The County of Monterey and the Pajaro Sunny Mesa Community Services District held a celebration March 13 for the renovation of the Pajaro Park soccer field and playground following the 2023 Pajaro River floods.
The event also highlighted other major improvements around Pajaro, including road work, curbs, lighting and a full renovation of the historic Porter-Vallejo mansion on Bishop Street.
Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas welcomed a crowd of about 60 people in handing out thanks to a wealth of people and agencies in getting Pajaro back on its feet after flood waters from the breached Pajaro River damaged scores of homes and businesses, the Porter Building, Pajaro Middle School, ag fields, roads, sidewalks, Pajaro Park and more.
Rivas and Senator John Laird secured $20 million toward Pajaro’s relief following the flood that also helped fund new equipment and training for North Monterey County Fire (NMCF) for such disasters.
“Today reflects the progress that can happen when local agencies, community partners and the state work together for recovery,” said Nick Pasculli, County Communications Director and Chief Public Information Officer.
Church told the crowd, “This community has never had anything like this. We’re fortunate to have been awarded this money. I’m proud to announce that 10 of our local firefighters are now fully certified in swift water and flood water rescue—capabilities we’ve never had.”
A big plus to NMCF’s rescue capabilities, through the grant monies, is a giant Acela Monterra GL truck, which is said to be the first of its kind in the state. It can travel in 50 inches of water, carry up to 16 people, and features a lifting platform that can hoist a wheelchair on board.
The agency also just got a new motorized rescue boat that can navigate through tight flooded areas, and a skid steer (similar to a Bobcat) that allows crews to clear out mud, rocks and debris and load sandbags into trucks, among other things.
Repair work on the Pajaro River levee has largely been completed.
The Pajaro River at Pajaro Project—a $599 million restoration for the levee system that will safeguard Pajaro from future flooding—is still in the works.
Monterey County Department of Public Works, Facilities, and Parks, the Monterey Department of Emergency Management, and County Administrative Office officials were also at the meeting.
Church said that once complete the Porter building will offer three floors as a community center, including county offices and a branch of the Public Library.
“This money and rebuilding is important, especially now when the federal government is targeting blue states,” Rivas said. “We are the United States of America—it doesn’t matter if you are blue or red … After everything that this community of Pajaro has been through, seeing the work that has been done here, seeing this park open again—it certainly is special.”
