The Plaza
The Heartbeat of “Downtown” Corralitos
If you ask any local about the focal point of the community, most would point to the Plaza. The Plaza is the little park situated about 60 Polish dogs across from Corralitos Market; it’s where people tend to gather for information and support during natural disasters.
The market’s vice president and grocery manager Ken Wong says, “Close by we have the forestry department, the Red Cross and Community Center, and a woman’s club plus two churches. The Plaza is situated right in the middle of the aforementioned organizations so everyone meets here. It’s great that residents have a place, a hub, to gather and help each other out after — and during— storms, flooding and fires.”
The Plaza Gets Adopted
The Plaza was formerly a no-man’s parcel of land, so to speak: the City of Watsonville said the County owned it and the county said the city owned it. “No one wanted to take responsibility for its upkeep,” says Dave Peterson, the market’s president and meat manager. “So we did. Sitting right across from the market, we felt its condition, right or wrong, was a reflection of the store. So we take care of it and maintain it.”
Out of their own till, the market first put up a gazebo, lighting and the big community table with seating. Then a couple of neighbors generously pitched and and paid for a second table at a tidy some of $1,000. Next came the small park’s landscaping which included a few big ol’ boulders and installing numerous pine trees and a brand-new lawn. There’s also a hand-dandy, “must read” community bulletin board.
The Skinny on Ken’s Lawn
There’s a donation bucket found at one of the market’s check stands labeled “Ken’s Lawn.” The money is used to pay for the Plaza’s monthly maintenance performed by a local landscaper. “When there’s not enough cash to cover monthly expenses,” says co-owner Dave Peterson, “thankfully, our landscaper accepts payment in trade. We greatly appreciate that and so does the entire community.”