Del Monte Heights Parks in 2026: Manzanita Stuart Playground Reopened, Cunningham Park Added Paths and Play Area

DEL MONTE HEIGHTS / SEASIDE, Monterey County — October 30, 2026. Two neighborhood park improvements in eastern Seaside have reached a milestone this year — and their completion should not be confused with the separate, still-evolving project to restore the pedestrian bridge over San Pablo Avenue. The City of Seaside announced that the Manzanita Stuart Park playground reopened on May 27, 2026 following safety-related repairs. It later scheduled a July 18 ribbon cutting at Lincoln Cunningham Park to mark completion of park pathways and a new play area for children ages 5–12.

These are local neighborhood amenities that families can use without confusing a completed playground with a future bridge construction project. The city sources document the playground reopening and a public celebration of the completed Cunningham work; they do not establish that every connected pedestrian route or the bridge itself is open today.

Manzanita Stuart: repairs addressed a closed playground

Seaside’s May 27 Parks announcement says the playground equipment at Manzanita Stuart Park had been temporarily closed because of safety concerns and a need for replacement components. The city reported the equipment was repaired and open for community use as of that date. Staff described the park as heavily used by local families and near a school, making its safe reopening a priority.

The notice does not list the cost of the repair, the exact manufacturer components that failed or a new full-park construction contract. It should be reported as a completed playground equipment reopening, not a wholesale renovation of every park feature. Weather, maintenance or later safety work can still change individual equipment access, so watch for posted signs.

Lincoln Cunningham: paths and a new children’s play area

The city’s event record for July 18, 2026 describes a ribbon cutting celebrating completed Lincoln Cunningham Park pathways and a new play area for ages 5–12. The listed location is San Pablo Avenue east of Yosemite Street, Seaside. The notice invited local residents to explore the facilities and thanked the Friends of Seaside Parks Association, the Seaside Neighborhood Center and the City Council for supporting the project.

The official Cunningham Park facility directory lists pathways, a playground, open areas and picnic tables. Its stated regular hours are dawn to dusk, subject to current park signs and any temporary maintenance restrictions. Families should not infer that park lighting or nighttime recreational access is authorized because a play area has reopened.

The San Pablo pedestrian bridge is a different project

In September, Seaside reported that state funding would help rehabilitate the San Pablo Pedestrian Bridge, which connects Lincoln Cunningham Park and Manzanita Stuart Park. The bridge originally served the community from 1960 and was closed in 2023 after deterioration. The city has discussed bridge replacement and accessible connections to nearby Safe Routes to School. Those are distinct from the completed park playground and path improvements.

Do not interpret the new play equipment or the July ribbon cutting as confirmation that the bridge has reopened. The bridge’s project status, detailed design and construction schedule must be checked with the city’s Public Works Department. California58 already covered the separate September 2026 state-funding announcement, so this report focuses on the two parks’ completed improvements rather than duplicating that bridge story.

How residents can help maintain neighborhood parks

The city maintains a public parks directory and describes neighborhood parks as part of Seaside’s network of public open spaces. For a broken swing, damaged pathway or other maintenance concern, contact the city’s Parks or Public Works staff using the official website rather than assuming a neighborhood volunteer organization has authority to close or repair facilities. Follow posted rules about dogs, disposal, accessibility and any sport-field reservations.

Official sources: City of Seaside, Manzanita Stuart Playground Now Open, May 27, 2026; City of Seaside, July 18 Lincoln Cunningham ribbon cutting; City of Seaside, September 23 pedestrian bridge funding; Cunningham Park facility and hours. The public records document the work reported on those dates, not a fresh inspection of all equipment on October 30.

Corrections and site-condition photographs: California58 Newsroom.

Featured image: illustrative playground swings by Aaron Burden / Unsplash. Not the actual Manzanita Stuart or Lincoln Cunningham park equipment.

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