City, State Reach Agreement on Lighthouse Field State Beach

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) today announced State Parks and the City of Santa Cruz have come to agreement to move forward with a purchase agreement for the beach-only section of the Lighthouse Field State Beach (LFSB) property. 

Following nearly a year of negotiations coordinated by Assemblymember Laird—and the passage of Laird-authored legislation in the 07-08 state budget that authorized State Parks to sell LFSB to the City of Santa Cruz—the city and the state have agreed on a purchase price of $102,800 for the approximately 2.5-acre property known as “Its Beach.”  The agreement to sell the state-owned beach to the city is contingent upon an environmental impact report (EIR) that would allow for use of the beach by dogs.  The City Council earlier this week approved conducting the EIR. 

“This agreement reflects months of very hard work on the part of the city, the state and community stakeholders,” said Mr. Laird.  “I’m pleased and proud of the outcome of what has been a very collaborative process.”

“This is an opportunity for the City to administer this important beachfront property,” said California State Parks Director Ruth Coleman.  “We are pleased to find an amicable resolution that serves the community.”

“This has been a long process, but at the end we’ve created an opportunity to continue use of a valued resource in our community,” said Santa Cruz Mayor Ryan Coonerty.

“We support the City's effort to move forward to develop a plan that could result in the purchase of Its Beach for off-leash recreational use,” said Bob Campbell, co-chair of Friends of Lighthouse Field.  “We are committed to working with the Council to ensure successful implementation of the plan including whatever we can do to support the Environmental Impact Report process.”

The purchase value was calculated at the rate per acre, based on the appraised value of $1,418,800 for the entire Lighthouse Field property, as identified and approved by the California Department of General Services.

For 30 years, Lighthouse Field State Beach was owned by State Parks, but managed by the City of Santa Cruz under an operating agreement.  Since at least the early 1990s, dogs had been allowed off-leash on the beach and the field before 10AM and after 4PM.  LFSB reverted to State Parks management in November 2007 after the City of Santa Cruz elected not to renew the operating agreement between the city and State Parks.  Dogs are currently required to be on leash in accordance with State Parks policy.

Additional contacts:

Roy Stearns, PIO, State Parks—(916) 654-2270
Ryan Coonerty, Mayor, City of Santa Cruz—(831) 212-3776
Bob Campbell, Co-Chair, Friends of Lighthouse Field—(831) 252-9904