Help us improve the seven public beach entrances and stairs along Ocean Street from Oak Avenue north. The City of Carlsbad will hold a community meeting to get input on conceptual design options for improving the seven public beach entrances and stairs. The meeting will take place Thursday, Dec. 3, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Heritage Hall at Magee Park, 258 Beech Ave. This is aa great opportunity to get involved in the process!
The goals of this project include:
Making the stairs, railings and landings more attractive and inviting
Providing amenities like bike racks, benches and trash/recycling receptacles
Adding lighting, crosswalks and other safety features
Adding shaded areas, where possible
Creating places to stop and enjoy the view
Make the entrances easier to find
Beautifying the entrances with drought tolerant landscaping and design features
Improving privacy, security and aesthetics for neighboring properties
“Some of these beach entrances were built many years ago and have become a bit tired looking,” said Assistant City Manager Gary Barberio, who is overseeing a number of projects to improve the coastal experience in Carlsbad. “In addition to a much needed rehab, this project will create a more inviting and consistent experience through design elements, benches, lighting, crosswalks and shade features.”
Not all entrances can accommodate these features and amenities due to space constraints, but all entrances would have consistent signage and a design feature with colorful mosaic tiles to beautify the area and mark the entrances more prominently. The city is seeking input on these proposed designs and amenities.
For those unable to attend the public meeting, an online survey will be available beginning Dec. 7 atwww.carlsbadca.gov/input.
The City of Carlsbad is working on a number of initiatives to make it easier and safer to get to the beach and travel along Carlsbad Boulevard, the old Highway 101, whether by car, on a bike or by foot. The projects are all based on the Carlsbad Community Vision, a set of nine core values developed through a two year public outreach process. The vision emphasizes maintaining Carlsbad’s small-town beach community character, sustainability, walking, biking and public transportation, open space and the natural environment, and active, healthy lifestyles, among other values.
“Community input is critical to making sure any change along the coastline preserves Carlsbad’s unique beach community character,” said Barberio.
The City of Carlsbad just completed a series of improvements to enhance safety and beach access in the Ocean Street parking lot, adjacent to Frazee State Beach. The improvements included installing a new walking path, installing new benches, enhancing access to the existing beach trail, widening the main entry to the lot, sealing and restriping the parking lot, and adding an additional disabled parking spot.
Other completed improvements along Carlsbad Boulevard include a new roundabout, landscaping, public art, sidewalks and bike paths at Carlsbad Boulevard and State Street; new crosswalks between Oak and Hemlock avenues; and improved bike lanes along the entire 6.5 mile length of Carlsbad Boulevard. Through a partnership with State Parks, which controls most of the beaches in Carlsbad, the city also renovated and took over maintenance of the Tamarack restrooms, the bluff between Tamarack Avenue and the area north of Pine Avenue and the landscaping on the upper sea wall.
For more information
Kyle Lancaster, parks superintendent, 760-434-2941 or kyle.lancaster@carlsbadca.gov
Media contact
Kristina Ray, 760-434-2957, kristina.ray@carlsbadca.gov