What sort of mural should become part of Ensen Community Park in Salinas? Local artists are invited to pitch their ideas and designs. The goal is to capture the spirit of Salinas.
The six-acre park at 99 La Posada Drive opened in the summer of 2025. Its name refers to the Indigenous word for “blackberry” in the Ohlone languages. It is as much a celebration of the Indigenous community in Monterey County, as a space for recreation and socializing. Making it a reality took eight years; counting from the time the public was first asked for comments on the park in 2017.
The opening of the park drew some 1,500 people, according to the City of Salinas and the Big Sur Land Trust. (By the way, if you would like to volunteer with the park, sign up to be part of their wetlands restoration project.)
The call for muralists is a logical idea straight from the city of murals, as the Weekly described Salinas in 2025, counting more than 80 murals in the city itself—and eventually losing count.
Interested artists should consider the following subjects, images and issues, according to the Big Sur Land Trust: “the local multicultural community, local Indigenous tribes, native flora and fauna, healthy ecosystems, restored wetlands, public access to open space, the history of Salinas, the agricultural history of Carr Lake (Japanese American farmers), family and community gathering, health, well-being, urban greening, rewilding and climate resilience.”
The estimated size of the mural is 1,350 square feet, with a budget of $35,000. The completion date is set for Friday, June 26. Proposals will be accepted until Wednesday, Feb. 11.
An in-person mural project information session takes place at 12:30pm Friday, Jan. 30 at Ensen Community Park, 99 La Posada Drive, Salinas. (831) 625-5523, bigsurlandtrust.org.