CARLSBAD — Residents here will be able to voice their input on several options to improve seven public beach entrances along Ocean Street from Oak Avenue.
On Dec. 3, the city of Carlsbad will hold a public meeting from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Heritage Hall at Magee Park, 258 Beech Ave.
For those who cannot attend, an online survey will be posted Dec. 7 at carlsbadca.gov/input.
According to a press release from the city, the goals of the project include making the stairs, railings and landings more attractive, providing more bike racks, benches and trash/recycling bins, adding lighting, crosswalks, shade, drought-tolerant landscaping, safety features and security.
“Some of these beach entrances were built many years ago and have become a bit tired looking,” said Assistant City Manager Gary Barberio. “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.”
Although not all entrances can accommodate all the features due to space constraints, they would have consistent signage and design features.
The city is working on a number of initiatives for safer travel to the beach and along Carlsbad Boulevard. The projects are all based on the Carlsbad Community Vision, a set of nine core values developed through a two-year public outreach process, according to the release.
“Community input is critical to making sure any change along the coastline preserves Carlsbad’s unique beach community character,” Barberio said.
The city also 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 stretch 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.
