The City of Ventura is excited to announce an upcoming community workshop for the Surfers Point Managed Retreat Project. The workshop will occur on Thursday, May 2, at 5:30 p.m. at Santa Rosa Hall, located at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Spanish interpretation will be available.
This workshop presents a valuable opportunity for community members to engage in interactive discussions, activities, and collaborative sessions that will shape the amenities and potential public art themes at the Surfers Point site, among other aspects.
“We are thrilled to involve our community in this pivotal stage of the Surfers Point Managed Retreat Project,” said Mayor Joe Schroeder. “After receiving over $16 million from the State of California’s Coastal Conservancy to fund this project, community input and collaboration are crucial in creating a space that reflects the needs and aspirations of our residents and visitors for this iconic location.”
The Surfers Point Managed Retreat Project aims to meet the City’s coastal resilience goals through a multifaceted approach. To help protect against erosion, this project continues an innovative method of replacing existing infrastructure along the coastline that has been damaged due to consistent wave action.
In addition to coastal protection, the project will include the construction of a new multi-use path and parking lot with an attendant station, a public art component, new lighting, drainage improvements, landscaping, and electrical vehicle parking. The reconstructed dunes, plantings, and buried cobble berm will protect these areas.
The Surfers Point Managed Retreat Project builds upon a previous initiative that was completed in 2013 in collaboration with the Ventura County Fairgrounds, Ocean Protection Council, State of California Coastal Conservancy, Beach Erosion Authority for Clean Oceans and Nourishment (BEACON), Surfrider Foundation, and more.
“The City of Ventura is one of the world’s leading pioneers in this approach to restoring its coastline by reconstructing the area with natural features that help provide long-term protection against erosion,” shared Public Works Director Charlie Ebeling. “We are fortunate to have so many partners to help safeguard this site for generations to come.”
Community members are encouraged to RSVP for the workshop and learn more about the project’s history and background at Cityofventura.ca.gov/SurfersPoint.
