Orange County Opens Beaches: Seal Beach Hours, Information

SEAL BEACH, CA — Seal Beaches remain open to active use, with limited beach hours, from Monday through Thursday while the sun is shining, the city says.

Seal Beach city spokesperson, police Sgt. Nick Nicholas says that only active use of the beach is permitted.

"Beaches in motion" began on May 11. Those who enjoy the beach can conduct active use, with no gatherings of any kind. The beach hours are currently 4:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week.

No passive use will be allowed, meaning beachgoers can not bring a towel and umbrella to post up on the sand for a beach day. Active use such as walking, jogging, surfing or swimming are allowed

Seal Beach's city council has approved reopening the Gum Grove Nature Park, as well as the Seal Beach portion of the San Gabriel River Bicycle path. It is all part of their three-phased approach to reopening life as we used to know it.

Gum Grove Park is in its first phase of reopening.

On Monday at sunrise, the park reopened for active recreation, only.

The police department will monitor the reopening, and while fines of up to $1,000 are possible, police are more interested in educating residents about the new active and non-gathering uses than citing them, Patch was told.

Parking at Gum Grove Park is available at both entrances, off Avalon Drive and Seal Beach Boulevard at Heron Point.

San Gabriel River Bicycle Path is also in its first phase of reopening, as of Monday.

Pedestrian and bicycle traffic is open, with social distance requirements in place, the city says.

Recreational use, only, is allowed. No picnicking, loitering, sitting, standing or stopping is allowed.

Parking remains closed on the 1st Street Beach lot.

Seal Beach will advance to the next phase only if the City Council believes the activities can be managed to comply with the then-current directives regarding social distancing and large gatherings, they said in a news release.

Seal Beach will also reevaluate istently reassess and may consider reverting to a previous phase that corresponds with the current public health guidelines by closing the park or bike path until compliance can be attained.

Orange County Beaches:

Elsewhere in the county, Orange County officials announced limited parking at county-run beaches starting Monday, May 18. Most lots are open with restrictions, calling for reduced capacity, though neighbors can breathe a bit easier as cars will not be flooding community streets.

At county-operated beaches, parking is now open with reduced capacity at Salt Creek, Strands, and Baby beaches in Dana Point, the county reported on their website.

The coastal lot is open at Aliso Beach in South Laguna, with the inland lot remaining closed. Aliso Beach parking may also close during times of high surf,be advised, and check before you go.

Parking at Capistrano Beach remains closed for maintenance. Beaches remain open for active recreation only.

"County beaches are open for active recreation only," according to an Orange County Parks news release. The social distancing between family groups is expected, according to officials.

What you can, and cannot do on Orange County Beaches:

• Visitors to the beach can shell-seek, walk, run, swim, surf, paddleboard, boat, kayak and boogie board.
• You cannot sunbathe, build sandcastles, play volleyball, spikeball or other games, bring coolers, umbrellas or grills.

According to Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci, reopening parking is another part of the phased reopening that began earlier this month.

All county beach parking lots have been closed since March 25 to encourage local, neighborhood-based recreation and to reduce the potential for crowding of open spaces, according to OC Parks Director Stacy Blackwood.

These closures have proved to slow both volume and intensity of visitation to the beaches and open areas, while simultaneously providing needed access for Orange County residents to pursue healthy outdoor exercise, she wrote in a letter to Ghilarducci earlier this month.

County-run beaches are open seven days a week, and parking is $1 an hour to be paid using "pay and display" machines. Orange County Annual Beach, county parks and beaches parking passes are also available. If you're interested in an annual parking pass, they are available online. Senior and veteran discounts apply.

If you're hitting the county beaches, here are the hours:

• City of Laguna Beach: Aliso, Table Rock, West, Camel Point, Thousand Steps, Treasure Island beaches: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays. 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Sunday. Restroom facilities closed.
• Capistrano Beach: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
• Poche Beach: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
• Salt Creek: 5 a.m. to 12 a.m. daily
• Strands Beach: 5 a.m. to 12 a.m. daily
• Baby Beach: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
• Bayside Beach: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily

Be sure and send us a picture from the beach to post on Patch! we want to know what you're active use looks like when you visit. Send pictures, and a little bit about your beach trip, to your Orange County Patch Editor:Ashley.Ludwig@Patch.com for a chance to have your photo featured.