Limited beach reopenings start in Laguna Beach

Beachgoers walk the sands between Cleo Street Beach and Main Beach on Tuesday, the same day Laguna Beach opened its city beaches for weekday active use only between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m.

By Lilly Nguyen

and Don Leach

May 5, 2020 1:39 PM PT

Laguna Beach residents seized the opportunity to head down to their city beaches this Tuesday morning after state officials announced that the city would be allowed to proceed with its phased reopening of its shoreline.

A city news release Tuesday said that beachgoers were abiding by the regulations put forward in the city’s four-phase plan to safely restore public access.

Beaches reopened at 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. for active use only with a hard close of both beaches and waters following the allotted hours. Beaches are currently only open weekdays. Waters were onset by red tide.

On the first day since city beaches were initially closed on March 23, residents came out to the Thalia surf break where surfers of all ages and ability sought out waves. Parents helped their kids into the waters with many accompanied only by beach towels and bags, but not chairs or blankets.

Many visitors wore face coverings.

“You’d never see it like this on a normal Tuesday morning at 8 a.m.,” Bill Radke, a Laguna Beach resident, said.

People walk the sands in Laguna Beach on Tuesday.

Radke said that he was happy to see people enjoying it.

James Pribram, 49, said he had lived in Laguna Beach his entire life and added that he had been in support of the beach closures but that he would have liked to have seen a united front from the state, county and city levels on beaches.

Pribram said he felt it was confusing for residents, especially those living in South Laguna Beach, where most of the coastline is owned and maintained by the county. Aliso Beach had been open, then its parking closed before the countywide order last Thursday closed it entirely just as city beaches began to reopen.

“I understand that we’ve never seen this type of situation or pandemic in our lives and so I feel like everyone’s doing the best they can and I think we all need to do our part and pay attention to what the governor, the mayor, the city leaders, the doctors are all saying,” Pribram said.

He said he had run from Pearl Street Beach to Rock Pile and back and saw people abiding by the social distancing regulations.

Lifeguards were present, directing foot traffic and signs were posted at every entrance with updated guidelines and regulations. Lifeguards unraveled temporary orange fencing to close off the beaches again at 10 a.m.

The city’s Marine Safety department could not be immediately reached for comment.

“Everyone was smiling. Everyone was happy. Everyone was social distancing and it was just really incredible to see that,” Pribram said.