APTOS — Public-serving facilities at Seacliff State Beach previously shuttered by heavy winter storms are continuing to reopen and just in time for the holidays.
California State Parks and Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks on Wednesday announced that the park’s full suite of day-use amenities and access will be reopening Memorial Day weekend, starting at 8 a.m. Saturday.
After months of recovery and repair efforts, visitors will be able to drive down and park in beach-level parking areas and enjoy the ramadas, picnic tables and barbecues, according to a State Parks release.
“After this year’s devastating storms, we are so excited to welcome back families and friends as they enjoy barbeques, celebrations, gatherings and fun times at Seacliff State Beach,” said State Parks Santa Cruz District Superintendent Chris Spohrer in the release. “Seacliff is a special place not only for locals, but also for visitors who have been coming here for generations to enjoy cooler temperatures and make memories.”
Seacliff is open daily from 8 a.m. until one hour after sunset and the increased access happening for Memorial Day weekend will remain in place throughout the summer and beyond.
Parking is $10 and supports park operations. The visitor center and park store will also be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The expanded access will mark the first time all day-use amenities have been available at Seacliff since a series of winter storms swept through the region in early January, taking out large sections of the seawall, ripping away more than half of its historic pier and obliterating the campground section, which will remain closed at least through the end of the year.
After assessments deemed the broken pier to be in a state of imminent collapse, demolition efforts began in late March and continued until no portions of the more than 90-year-old structure were left visible.
Granite Construction led the demolition effort and has also continued to perform cleanup and repair work as officials sought to make as much of the park available to the public as possible. However, some regions are still unsafe and State Parks asks the public not to enter the closed areas.
“We are so thankful for very hard work accomplished by State Parks and Granite Construction that has made this reopening possible,” said Bonny Hawley, executive director of Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, a local operating partner of the State Parks. “Working in partnership with State Parks and the community, we look forward to creating a new vision for Seacliff State Beach that will serve generations to come and be a model for coastal parks in our time of climate change and sea level rise.”
State Parks recently hired a consulting firm to help it develop a sea level rise vulnerability assessment and adaptation alternatives study that will guide the park’s continued recovery in a time of climate change and sea level rise. According to the release, the study will include a robust outreach and community engagement process and more information about this will be released once it becomes available.
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks has also established a Seacliff recovery fund for short-term and long-term recovery efforts. Go to thatsmypark.org to contribute to the fund.
Seacliff day-use access
What: Expanded parking and beach-level access at Seacliff State Beach.
When: 8 a.m. until one hour after sunset daily, beginning Saturday.
Where: State Park Drive in Aptos.
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