COSAS Newsletter: April 3, 2026

In the April 3, 2026, edition of COSAS (City of Santa Ana Stories), learn about our upcoming dog park opening, your last chance to register for the Santa Ana Fun Run, the Día de los Niños event, sponsoring a military service banner, and more City events, news and resources.

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Exploring MainPlace

Photo Credit: Delia O.

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City Manager's Highlights

Join our events showcasing Santa Ana pride and progress

We warmly invite the Santa Ana community to join us at a series of upcoming events that reflect the spirit, pride and progress of our city. This month, we'll celebrate exciting milestones that highlight the meaningful investments we're continuing to make in our neighborhoods and in our community.

I encourage you to take part, and I look forward to celebrating with you.

Centennial Park Improvements and Dog Park Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

If you've noticed construction happening at Centennial Park, here's your chance to get a closer look at what we've been building: a $13.4 million investment in Santa Ana's largest park, including our first dog park! We will be celebrating the Centennial Park Improvements Project and cutting the ribbon on the new dog park this Saturday. Please join us and bring your canine friends to explore what is sure to become the premier dog park in Orange County.

Join us for the Centennial Park Improvements and Dog Park ribbon cuttingon Saturday, April 4,at 10 a.m. in Centennial Park, 3000 W. Edinger Ave.

Santa Ana Fun Run

Our annual Santa Ana Fun Runis returning to the heart of Orange County, with an action-packed Superheroes theme. Registration closes Sunday, April 5, but there's also plenty of fun to be had from the sidelines, and the Kids Dash is free with same-day registration.

Join us on Saturday, April 11, from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Santa Ana Stadium, 900 W. Civic Center Drive.

Community Tree Planting

April is a special time of year as we celebrate both Arbor Day and Earth Day, occasions that remind us of the importance of caring for our environment and investing in a greener future for our city.

Everyone is invited to join our community tree planting events taking place at parks across our city. This is a wonderful opportunity to come together as neighbors, give back to our community, and help grow our urban forest, which already includes more than 60,000 trees.

Join us on the morning of Saturday, April 18, at one of seven park sites. Find times and locations here.

Día de los Niños, Día de Los Libros

Join Santa Ana Public Library for an exciting day filled with activities and entertainment during the 18th annual Día de los Niños, Día de los Libros(Children's Day, Book Day) event.

Festivities include a book giveaway, train ride, face painting, and a meet-and-greet with the Cat in the Hat. In addition, Grammy-winning author and musician Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band will perform, and Diaz will present his book, "Paletero Man."

Join us on Saturday, April 25,from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Plaza of the Sun (behind the Main Library), 26 Civic Center Plaza.

News

Dispose of large trash items at Quarterly Bulky Item Drop-Off Day on April 11

The City of Santa Ana is hosting a Quarterly Bulky Item Drop-Off Day from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, April 11, at Bomo Koral Park, 900 W. MacArthur Blvd., and Jerome Park, 2115 W. McFadden Ave.

The quarterly drop-off days are held throughout Santa Ana as a way to help residents properly dispose of bulky items such as furniture, mattresses, carpets, and non-donatable clothes, bedding, books, or toys. These events are free to Santa Ana residents, and no appointment is necessary. Proof of Santa Ana residency is required.

Items that are not accepted include, but are not limited to: hazardous waste, such as paints, oils, chemicals, pesticides, and batteries; concrete, dirt, rocks, brick, asphalt; tires, refrigerators, freezers, and AC units. Please note that the event may end before 12 p.m. if capacity is reached.

For more information, call (714) 647-5411 or visit the City website.

Quarterly Bulky Item Drop-Off Days

Apply now for Arts and Culture grant funding for community events

Calling all artists and arts organizations! The City of Santa Ana has $124,170 available to sponsor special events for eligible applicants whose events and programs support the City's mission and provide a community benefit.

Arts & Culture Special Event Sponsorship

Provide feedback to help shape Santa Ana's 2026-27 budget

Which City of Santa Ana services and programs are important to you? Take our Community Budget Priorities Survey to share your ideas with the City Council. Time is running out - complete the survey today!

We are currently planning the annual City budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, which begins July 1, and we want to hear from our residents, business owners and other community stakeholders. Your responses will be shared with the Santa Ana City Council as they work to set spending priorities and approve the new budget for the coming year.

The budget survey is available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. You can also join upcoming neighborhood association meetings where City staff will be discussing the budget and listening to your comments.

Take the Survey and Learn More

Santa Ana City Council approves new regulations for smoke shops to protect public health

The Santa Ana City Council unanimously approved new rules to limit the operation of smoke shops near homes, schools and other non-commercial areas on March 17, in a move to protect public health, improve neighborhood safety and prevent overconcentration of smoke shops.

The zoning ordinance amendment limits the operation of smoke shops to certain commercial districts only after they've obtained a Conditional Use Permit from the City. The ordinance creates distance requirements to protect public health, including:

• 1,000-foot separation from youth-centered locations, including recreational facilities, schools and childcare facilities
• 500-foot between smoke shops and residential areas
• 1,000-foot separation between smoke shops to prevent clustering

The ordinance goes into effect April 16, 2026.

Read More About the Ordinance

Honoring Heroes: Nominate a service member or sponsor a military banner by April 30

The City of Santa Ana is proud to recognize Santa Ana's military heroes for their service through our Hometown Heroes Military Banner Program.

Through April 30, 2026, family members and loved ones may nominate an active duty service member to be honored with a street banner featuring the service member's name and photo. The banner will be prominently displayed on one of the City's streetlight poles along MacArthur Boulevard or Civic Center Drive. Cost is $205, or you can request a sponsorship.

We're also seeking businesses that would like to sponsor a military banner. As a sponsor, your business name will be displayed at the bottom of each banner you support, and you'll receive a special letter with the name of the military member you sponsored. The military family will also receive a warm letter letting them know that you or your business sponsored a banner for their loved one.

Hometown Heroes: Military Banner Program

Summer Splash Day Camp registration now open

Summer is a cherished time in a child's life, and families are invited to make it unforgettable with the City's Summer Splash Day Camp. Registration opened April 2, and early registration savings are available for those who sign up by July 1.

Designed for children ages 6-12, the program offers an engaging, fun-filled environment where kids can explore, learn, and play all summer long. Each day is packed with activities, including games, outdoor play, swim lessons, and arts and crafts. Campers will also enjoy weekly excursions to popular destinations.

Summer Splash Day Camp runs from June 1 through Aug. 7 at three locations:

• El Salvador Community Center (1825 W. Civic Center Drive)
• Jerome Recreation Center (726 S. Center St.)
• Salgado Recreation Center (706 N. Newhope St.)

Families have the flexibility to register for the full summer session or select individual weeks that best fit their schedules.

Summer Splash Day Camp Registration

55 Freeway improvement project closing ramps in April

Two construction efforts are taking place on the 55 Freeway this month that may impact your commute. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead and use alternate routes; detour signs will be posted.

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has scheduled a 55-hour closure of the westbound 17th Street off-rampfrom the southbound 55 Freeway from 10 p.m. Friday, April 10, to 5 a.m. Monday, April 13. This is to rebuild the ramp terminus as part of the SR-55 Multi-Asset Project, which aims to improve safety and road conditions along the 55. The eastbound off-ramp from the southbound 55 at 17th Street will be open.

Further south, crews will also be reconstructing the northbound 55 Freeway McFadden Avenue on-ramp, which will require an extended closure of the ramp. The on-ramp is expected to close as soon as 9 p.m., Tuesday, April 7, and reopen to motorists by 5 a.m., Friday, April 17. The work is part of a project led by the Orange County Transportation Authority, in cooperation with Caltrans, to improve four miles of the 55 Freeway between the 405 and 5 freeways.

Caltrans Lane Closures

55 Freeway Construction Updates

SoCalGas pipeline work scheduled on Grand Avenue

SoCalGas has informed the City that they will be working on a gas pipeline enhancement project along Grand Avenue, north of Santa Clara Avenue, as early as Monday, March 30, for about four weeks. Work will occur from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily and will include use of trucks and heavy equipment, construction noise, and traffic impacts. Natural gas service in the area should continue without interruption. If that changes, a SoCalGas representative will notify the affected gas customers.

SoCalGas routinely performs pipeline maintenance and safety tasks, including patrolling, inspecting, testing, repairing, and replacing pipelines in order to continue to reliably provide natural gas service for customers.

During the work, there could be the potential odor of natural gas in the area. Anyone who has concerns is encouraged to call SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200, which will be answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you have any questions about this project, please call the Project Info Line: 844-765-9385.

Tales of the City

Sister Cities Santa Ana and Sahuayo Business Expo 2026 brings global opportunities to local businesses

Handcrafted leather shoes. Delicate colorful shawls. Crocheted stuffed animals.

These were among hundreds of goods proudly displayed by artisans during the second annual Sister Cities Santa Ana and Sahuayo Business Expo 2026, a three-day event connecting local businesses with international partners from our sister city, Sahuayo, Michoacán, Mexico.

Held at the Santa Ana Elks Lodge #794 from March 27 to 29, the event offered business owners and merchants from the United States and Mexico opportunities for networking, collaboration, and exploring international business ventures. Over 1,000 people attended and there were about 40 business-to-business meetups between local and Mexican companies.

The City hosted the event as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen global ties, support local businesses, and promote economic growth within the community.

See more event photos here.

City Council Meetings

April 7 City Council meeting

The next regular Santa Ana City Council meeting will take place on April 7, 2026, at 4 p.m. for closed session and at 5:30 p.m. for the open meeting in Council Chambers, 22 Civic Center Plaza.

City Council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, with the closed session beginning at 5 p.m. or earlier. The open meeting session begins at 5:30 p.m. Meetings have both in-person and virtual participation and attendance and are live-streamed onthe City's YouTube channeland our TV channel, CTV3 (channel 3 on Spectrum.) If you'd like to provide public comments on agenda and non-agenda items, you can email, attend in person, or join the Zoom webinar online or by phone. Subscribe hereto receive City meeting agenda notifications.

April 7, 2026,Meeting Agenda: https://www.santa-ana.org/cc/city-meetings

Events

Find more City of Santa Ana events on our website.

See the Parks and Recreation class catalogue here.

Family Night Out - April 3

It's Family Fun Night at the Jerome Recreation Center. For $20, families can create seasonally-themed arts and crafts and play games together. Available to all ages; pre-registration is required. For more information and to register, please visit tinyurl.com/SAFFN2026.

• Friday, April 3
• 6-8 p.m.
• Jerome Center, 726 S. Center St.

DTSA First Saturday Art Walk - April 4

Downtown Santa Ana's monthly Art Walk is back with an evening full of creativity, music, and community. Hosted by The Frida Cinema and sponsored by the City of Santa Ana, this community event brings together local artists, DJs, vendors, and interactive activities throughout the Artists Village and beyond. Join friends and neighbors for live art, outdoor vendors, live music, dancing under the stars, and over a dozen art galleries and studios featuring rotating exhibitions, performances, and more.

• Saturday, April 4
• 5-10 p.m.
• Downtown Santa Ana - Artists Village, Sycamore Street & Plaza Calle Cuatro

Information: https://dtsaartwalk.org/

Wilderness Club: Enhanced Whale Watching - April 8

The Wilderness Club will visit the iconic Crystal Cove Marine Protected Area for a two-hour, participant-led research cruise. Bus transportation will be provided. To register, visit: tinyurl.com/SAWhaleWatching26.

• Wednesday, April 8
• 8 a.m.-1:15 p.m.
• Roosevelt Walker Community Center, 816 E. Chestnut Ave.

Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Agency Hiring Fair - April 9

The City of Santa Ana will host an in-person hiring fair on April 9 for various seasonal positions, including Program Leader I, Lifeguard, Senior Lifeguard, and Pool Manager.

Hiring Fair information

• Thursday, April 9
• 1-5:30 p.m.
• Jerome Center, 726 S. Center St.

Community Budget Meeting at Washington Square Neighborhood - April 9

Your opinion matters! Tell us which City services and programs are important to you at the Washington Square Neighborhood Meeting. You can also take our community budget survey and learn more about the 2025-26 fiscal year budget process here.

• Thursday, April 9
• 7-8 p.m.
• Heroes Elementary School, 1111 W. Civic Center Drive

Courtyard Cinema: Spring Edition - April 10

Hop into Spring with the Youth section for a Zootopia-themed movie night under the stars. Bring your family and friends to watch a screening of "Zootopia," arts and crafts, and a night full of adventure.

All ages are welcome. $5 per person. For more information and to register, please visit tinyurl.com/courtyardcinemaspring.

• Friday, April 10
• 6:30-8:30 p.m.
• El Salvador Community Center, 1825 W. Civic Center Drive

Movie Night at Garfield Community Center: Wall-E - April 10

Hang out, snack, and watch a movie. We'll be showing a mix of new releases, nostalgic favorites, and underrated picks just for teens. Contact us at 714-571-4238 for more information.

• Friday, April 10
• 3:30-5:30 p.m.
• Garfield Community Center, 501 N Lacy St.

Brettso The Great Magic Show - April 10

Bring the whole family for a fun-filled magic show as Brettso the Great amazes kids. Contact Delhi Library Branch at 714-647-5358 for more information.

• Friday, April 10
• 4-5 p.m.
• Delhi Community Center, 505 E. Central Ave.

Let's All Sing for Spring! - April 13

Join us at the library, where we are singing in the spring with some sweet birdie crafts! These free kits will be available for all kids up to the 8th grade. Contact us at 714-647-5358 for more information.

• Monday, April 13
• 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Delhi Community Center, 505 E. Central Ave.

Spring Celebrations at Santa Ana Senior Centers - April 15

Welcome Spring with a fun and friendly celebration at our Santa Ana senior centers. Enjoy games, dancing, giveaways, and time to socialize and build connections with other seniors! Participation is free and open to registered and active members of the senior center of their choice.

• Wednesday, April 15
• 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Santa Ana Senior Center (424 W. Third St.): 714-647-6540
• Southwest Senior Center (2201 W. McFadden Ave.): 714-647-5306

City Budget Presentation at Communication Linkage Forum (Com-Link) General Meeting - April 23

The Communication Linkage Forum (or "Com-Link for short) strives to promote positive leadership, community participation, unity and pride in all neighborhoods by improving the quality of life in Santa Ana "block-by-block". All are welcome to attend. Learn more about Com-Link here: www.santa-ana.org/com-link.

• Thursday, April 23
• 6-7 p.m.
• Santa Ana Police Department Community Room, 60 Civic Center Plaza

Get Involved

Apply to serve on a Santa Ana board or commission

Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity and the ability to advise on City business? The City of Santa Ana is looking for passionate residents to serve on our Boards & Commissions! The City has current vacancies on multiple Boards, Commissions,and Committees. Submit an application today for consideration by the City Council: www.santa-ana.org/boards-and-commissions. Questions: [email protected].

Resources

Report issues with the mySantaAna app

The mySantaAna mobile app puts the power of the City of Santa Ana government in the palm of your hand! Download the app to quickly and easily report issues such as potholes, graffiti, downed trees and much more. The new app is now fully functional in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Download the mySantaAna app

Immigration, Food and Community Resources

The City of Santa Ana provides a variety of resources and information about non-City services and programs to help the community.

Know Your Rights: Legal services and immigration information

Ayuda Sin Fronteras: Assistance for residents impacted by immigration enforcement

ImmDef Legal Services:The City of Santa Ana has a contract with Immigrant Defenders Law Center to help residents facing deportation.

Food Assistance:Santa Ana and Orange County food distributions and assistance programs

Community Resources:A variety of other programs and resources are available.

City Hall Friday and Holiday Closures

Santa Ana City Hall is open Monday through Thursday and every other Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. City Hall and non-essential City offices are closed on alternating Fridays, in addition to several observed holidays throughout the year.

See the holiday and closed Friday schedule

See our holiday street sweeping schedule

Who do I call at City Hall?

Important phone numbers:

• City Hall main line: (714) 647-5400
• Code Enforcement: (714) 667-2780
• Graffiti Hotline: (877) 786-7824
• Emergency Water Services: (714) 953-8026
• Public Works dispatch (street sweeping, trees): (714) 647-3380

Find more phone numbers for all City services

Utility services

• City utility services
• Southern California Edison: Call (800) 447-6620
• Southern California Gas: Call (800) 207-8567
• Trash pick-up: Call (657) 467-6220

Starting a small business?

• How to start a business in Santa Ana
• Home Occupation Permit

Apply to work for the City of Santa Ana

• Career opportunities
• Internship program