The Ebb & Flow River Arts Project is a way to change the way people think about the San Lorenzo River and about Santa Cruz.

Instead of driving over the bridges of the San Lorenzo River without thinking twice about the habitat that’s there, the recreation potential, and the river’s important history, people are now being delighted and surprised by what they find. Huge fishing rods suspended from the Water St. bridge might make people think of a time when they used to go fishing with their families, when the river was alive with steelhead trout and Coho salmon. And it makes people wonder, can we have that again?

Ebb & Flow showed us that the Santa Cruz community is excited about river revival. They are eager to learn more about the river as a drinking water source, a place for recreation and an outdoor community space that they can enjoy with friends and family. And it showed us how much the next generation cares about this river. Hundreds of kids from local schools, community centers, and art organizations visited the Santa Cruz Riverwalk with the art they created to delight in the celebration they found there.

We know that the Santa Cruz Riverwalk has potential. What was amazing about Ebb & Flow was seeing that potential come alive for a whole day of art, parades, music, dance and community.