[10] The Fort Ord Station Veterinary Hospital, built in 1941 to provide healthcare for U.S. Army horses and mules, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.

[11][12] In July 1994, the California State University, Monterey Bay, began its first academic year, and barracks were soon transformed into dorms.

As a result of base closure, some of the last undeveloped natural wildlands on the Monterey Peninsula are now overseen by the Bureau of Land Management, including 86 miles (138 km) of trails for the public to explore on foot, bike or horseback.

In 2012, President Barack Obama designated 14,000 acres (57 km2) of the closed base as a national monument managed by the BLM.

[13] Cemex had a sand mining operation in the city along the Monterey Bay coastline that concerned environmentalists and scientists.

The California Coastal Commission in March 2016 issued a Cease and Desist order asking for "administration civil penalties", stating that "the operation is narrowing beaches and impacting environmentally sensitive habitat."

[15] Unlike most other coastal cities in California, Marina's coastline remains undeveloped and protects rare species of butterflies, buckwheat, and sea lettuce.

The military has been a significant part of life in Marina, which is located adjacent to the former Fort Ord, a US Army installation which closed in 1994 during the country's base closure initiative.

The Veterans Transition Center is instrumental in placing numerous US and state flags along Del Monte Blvd.

The Labor Day Parade & Family Festival held the Saturday before the official holiday pays homage to the significant military history of the town.

The annual Otter Fest in August welcomes back students, staff, and faculty to CSU, Monterey Bay.

Earth Day is celebrated in April as a community work party to maintain and improve Locke-Paddon Park.

Fort Ord Dunes State Park opened in March 2009 and was formerly an Army practice firing range.

Fort Ord Dunes State Park is a popular place for horseback riding, hiking, fishing and cycling.

The tall sand dunes at Marina beaches provide optimal conditions for paragliding and hang gliding.

[20] Joby Aviation is a California-based venture-backed aerospace company, developing an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft that it intends to operate as an air taxi service.