Major floods along the Santa Ana River in 1937 and 1938 led Congress to order the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build a flood control system. By 1939, work began on Prado Dam, which became the largest flood control project of its time. The name “Prado” comes from the Spanish word for meadow, reflecting the area’s early history.
In the early 1960s, the state considered making the land a state park but decided it did not meet the criteria. Later, local efforts and a state grant helped create a 400-acre county park. Prado Regional Park officially opened on July 2, 1976, offering fishing, hiking, camping, biking, and horseback riding for visitors…