Capo Beach Lovers Seek To Preserve Historic Coastal Trail

CAPISTRANO BEACH, CA —The ocean pounds the shoreline of Capistrano Beach, and workers of the Orange County Park system do their best to shore up the eroding coastline.

"The beach has long battled debris and damage during tidal conditions," a spokesperson for the OC Parks wrote on their website. In March, the parks began working, on an emergency permit with the California Coastal Commission, for temporary stabilization measures. Those efforts have added a parking lot, firepit area and the reopening of the beach over Memorial Day Weekend.

The beach itself is ever-changing. Sandbags, rip rap and K-rails stand in the way of erosion, and still, the County is evaluating the long term solutions.

Advocates for the shoreline preservation applauded the OC Parks for their work, and now look to the path between Capistrano and Doheny Beaches, to see what the parks service will do next.

"A combination of sea-level rise, storms, and coastal surges has had a devastating impact on Southern California beaches," Toni Nelson told Patch. Toni is Patch Mayor of Dana Point, a Capistrano Beach resident, and founder of Capo Cares, a community advocacy group. "Capistrano Beach has suffered painful losses."

In history, there was a beach club with swimming pool. That gave way to a beautiful boardwalk, basketball courts, sidewalks, and restrooms. All are now lost to the community. Further north, Doheny Beach has lost iconic palm trees, shoreline, and parking to the encroaching ocean.

But, according to Nelson, every day, "hundreds if not a thousand people on the weekend make the beach trail part of their experience."

Now, the iconic path that connects Capistrano Beach is in danger of being lost.
"We started the petition to support the county in their efforts" to keep the path open, and keep it safe, Nelson told us.

Imagine a moment if there was no path between Doheny and Capistrano Beaches.

"Without the path, pedestrians would be forced to climb a bridge, hike busy PCH and travel between," she said. "Bicyclists and the handicapped would have no uninterrupted access."

The long term Capistrano Beach Park Master Plan is due to be completed by Spring of 2021, the Orange County Park Service said. A project survey was made available to all residents so that the county could understand the "current use and desired improvements" of the popular park.

As for residents, Nelson is not only focused on the current state of the trail, but her thoughts also dip to future generations.

Resident Kelliann Schmidt walks the path regularly.

"I hope we can save it," Schmidt wrote on the petition website.

Edward Tharp has lived in the area since 1979 and has seen his share of changes to Capo Beach.

"I was so dejected seeing how much erosion has progressed," he said. "I'm so pleased at the efforts to keep the path open."

Dale Marnati appreciates the park's work on the path project, and knows there is more that needs to be done.

"An upgrade is obviously needed due to the erosion and the popularity of the spot," he said. He hopes that the OC Parks will continue to devote efforts in restoring the pathway.

"We applaud Orange County Parks for the willingness to spend public funds on reasonable efforts to keep the path intact," she said. Both Nelson and the many supporters of the project hope the path will remain, allowing future generations to enjoy accessing both beaches for as long as possible.