Beaches, Trail Access Closing In Laguna Beach Due To Coronavirus

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — An inundation of folks, including some from outside city limits, taking advantage of the weekend's spate of pleasant weather at Laguna Beach beaches and parks, despite shelter-at-home mandates, led city officials on Sunday to order new closures starting today, in keeping with goals to stop the spread of the new coronavirus.

"Over the weekend, a number of people traveled to Laguna Beach to enjoy the nice weather and in the process crowded our beachfront parks and trails," City Manager John Pietig said. "Sunday) afternoon, the Laguna Beach City Council met in an emergency closed session to consider the actions necessary to protect the public and prevent the spread of the coronavirus."

The Laguna Beach City Council voted for staff to close, beginning this morning, trail access to the county wilderness parks, and to close city beaches as of Monday night, Pietig said, adding "unless the County of Orange or the State of California does so before that time."

The council also is requesting Orange County to close its beaches within Laguna Beach or to grant such permission to city staff. Beach closures also would include closure of adjacent parks, including Main Beach, Heisler and Treasure Island parks.

“The safety of the public is our utmost concern, and this decision was not taken lightly by the city council," Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen said. "We were unanimous that these steps must be taken now in our city to slow the spread of COVID-19."

Whalen on Sunday wrote to California Gov. Gavin Newsom asking that current stay-home mandate be revised and tightened to require residents to stick to their communities if leaving their houses.

"I am urging you to modify your stay-at-home order to expressly require people to remain in their own communities unless out on essential business," the mayor said in his letter. "As a small coastal city in a heavily populated county, we are finding that many people from inland cities are coming to our beaches and parks when the weather is good. We lack the resources among our first responders to enforce social distancing with these crowds.

"I understand that your existing order allows individuals to go outside for a walk or to exercise," Whalen continued. "This is a commonsense rule as you said yesterday. But it does not mean that people have to travel miles to a beach or a park to get outside. A revision to the order to require people to remain in their own communities, unless required to travel out of town on essential business, would be a good change and further minimize the risk of transmission of COVID-19."

Newsom’s stay-at-home order permits outdoor activity as long as a social distance of six feet is maintained from people, who are not part of the same household.

"Although many of our citizens are self-regulating and practicing social distancing, the increased number of people gathering on Laguna Beach trails, beaches and in adjacent parks creates more opportunities for community spread of the virus," the city manager said.

"These public parks contain benches, railings and structures that are high-touch areas and could potentially be a source of spread of COVID-19," he said.

Already shuttered within the city, due to the coronavirus threat, are basketball, tennis and volleyball courts, along with all children’s playgrounds.

Mayor Whalen added: "I urge everyone to comply with our actions for the health of everyone in our community and beyond.”

ALSO SEE:

• 9 Activities To Keep Your Housebound Kids Entertained
• 2 Restaurants Go 'Old School' With Pop-Up Markets In O.C.
• Restaurants To Southland: 'We're Dying Unless We Get Customers'
• Save A Server, Help A Restaurant: Order Takeout In O.C.

--City News Service