Local Park Gets Makeover After Boy's Death Spurred Donations

APTOS, CA — The public is invited next week to celebrate the makeover of Hidden Beach Park, which got a facelift after a beloved local patron died of brain cancer.

Jett Ramsey died in April 2020 and cherished visiting the park each day, the county said.

The community raised $28,000 to benefit Jett's family as they struggled to keep up with hospital visits, cancer treatment and medical bills, and again rallied in his memory to push for updates to the park he so dearly loved.

The DeBernardo Team real estate agency pushed to raise $100,000 in honor of Jett's life and leave "a legacy for generations to come," said Frank DeBernardo during a virtual fundraising event.

The Santa Cruz Warriors and Whole Foods Market in Capitola were among the hundreds of donors who chipped in to make the project a reality, according to Friends of Santa Cruz County Parks.

Updates to the park at 660 Cliff Dr. in Aptos include a new play structure and rubberized surfaces, the county said in a statement. The renovations were also made possible thanks to the county and Friends of Santa Cruz County Parks.

The ribbon-cutting will be held 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 22 at the park.