by Patricia Schallert
The City of Ventura invited the media to commemorate the groundbreaking for the second phase of the Surfers Point Managed Retreat Project on Friday, October 11, 2024, at the end of Shoreline Drive, near the dunes at Surfers Point.
The morning event included a ceremony featuring remarks from Ventura Mayor Joe Schroeder, alongside local officials, key stakeholders, and community representatives.
Surfers Point, a beloved destination for swimming, surfing, windsurfing, and kayaking, boasts vital walking, running, and biking paths that benefit all Ventura residents. This $16.2 million project, funded by the California State Coastal Conservancy, aims to enhance beachgoer safety and protect the shoreline from erosion, rising sea levels, and climate change. Planned improvements involve a new multi-use path, redesigned parking with an attendant station, public art, enhanced lighting, upgraded drainage, improved landscaping, and electric vehicle charging stations, creating a safer and more enjoyable experience for all visitors.
Building upon a successful first phase completed in 2013, recognized globally for its innovative coastal resilience strategy, this second phase will also remove damaged infrastructure and introduce dunes, native plants, and a cobble berm to protect both City and Fairgrounds infrastructure.
Mayor Schroeder noted, “When agencies collaborate effectively, remarkable achievements occur,” emphasizing that Ventura has become an international model for coastal preservation. Supervisor Matt LaVere of District 1 expressed gratitude for the Phase 2 project, which aims to “safeguard the coastline from erosion, restore habitats, and address rising sea levels.”
Dan Long, president of the Ventura County Fairgrounds, highlighted the project’s community-focused vision, while Paul Jenkins, President of the Surfrider Foundation and Ventura Campaign Coordinator, acknowledged the earlier phase’s recognition as a successful green infrastructure solution against climate change’s challenges.
Chairman Matt Vestuto, a Cultural Specialist Consultant from the Band of Mission Indians, believes this project will help preserve the Ventura coastline as a sacred space for future generations and appreciates the collaboration of all involved agencies as they embark on this next chapter for Surfers Point.
