July 2 Update - Beaches And Parking Lots In Half Moon Bay California To Be Closed For July 4 Weekend

Press release from the City of Half Moon Bay California:

July 1, 2020

This updates the previous news release on beach closures. All beaches within the City will be closed Friday - Sunday due to COVID-19 risk. This now includes Half Moon Bay State Beach. These are complete closures and apply to all residents and visitors.

July 2, 2020 - As a temporary public health safety measure to reduce the density of visitors over the 4th of July holiday weekend, all beaches and their parking areas in Half Moon Bay will be closed to everyone, for the weekend. Additionally, a portion of the Coastal Trail between Seymour Bridge and Kelly Avenue will be closed for that same period.

This update of the City’s previous notice of beach closures now includes Half Moon Bay State Beach and its parking and access points (Francis Campground/Kelly Avenue, Venice Boulevard, and Young Avenue). These are complete closures of the beaches, and a section of Coastal Trail, to all residents and visitors.

The closure begins at sunrise on Friday, July 3, and ends at 9:00 AM on Monday, July 6.

The order to close City beaches, parking lots, and a portion of the Coastal Trail was signed by the City Manager under his authority based on the City’s emergency declaration.

This action is being taken to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Spread of the virus is greatly intensified when large crowds gather, especially if face covering and social distancing regulations are not followed.

San Mateo County Sheriff’s Deputies will be present at closed beaches and coastal trail sections to enforce applicable local ordinances and state laws. City staff will be at beach entrance points to advise visitors of the closures. Changeable electronic message boards will be placed on various roadways to notify motorists of the closures.

Previous news release dated July 1, 2020

Half Moon Bay, CA – Today, Governor Newsom announced the implementation of additional public health measures due to the recent troubling spike in COVID-19 cases. The Governor’s directives apply primarily to those counties that have been on the state’s “county monitoring list” for three consecutive days. San Mateo County is not, at present, on that list, so some of the additional measures outlined – which include closure of indoor operations for specific business sectors such as restaurants and bars – do not apply to Half Moon Bay.

However, the Governor has also ordered parking facilities at most state beaches (including those in San Mateo County) to be closed for the upcoming holiday weekend, to help reduce or prevent massive congregations of people and the related risk of COVID-19.

In line with the measures being imposed by the Governor, Half Moon Bay will close all City beaches and their respective parking areas, along with a portion of the Coastal Trail between Seymour Bridge and Kelly Avenue, for the holiday weekend. The closures begin at sunrise on Friday, July 3, and these facilities will reopen at 9:00 AM on Monday, July 6. The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office has committed to adding additional staff to conduct fireworks enforcement and DUI enforcement. Deputies will be present at all closed beaches and coastal trail sections to enforce applicable local ordinances and state laws.

“Half Moon Bay is following the lead of Governor Newsom in closing Poplar Beach and its parking lot. If the potential crowds here are similar to previous holiday crowds we’ve seen, this kind of action is necessary for the protection of public health and safety,” said Half Moon Bay Mayor Adam Eisen. “We’ve already urged people not to visit over the 4th of July weekend, due to the significant risk of coronavirus exposure when large crowds congregate. Now we are saying: our beaches are closed, the parking lots are closed, and we will be enforcing parking regulations on streets near the beaches. Don’t put yourself, your family, and the community at additional risk - please celebrate the holiday at home.”

The order to close beaches, parking lots, and a portion of the Coastal Trail was signed by the City Manager under his authority based on the City’s emergency declaration. That order can be viewed on our web page here. City officials in Pacifica have also closed their beaches from sunrise Friday morning to sunrise Monday morning.

Half Moon Bay officials have previously expressed great concern regarding the potential crowds and potential for COVID-19 transmission over this holiday weekend, pointing to the surge of visitors on Memorial Day weekend in May. At that time, despite the obvious high risk of spreading COVID-19 in crowded situations, many people inundated City neighborhoods to access local beaches, with a majority ignoring face covering and social distancing regulations.

The Governor’s order requires - within the 19 counties on the state’s monitoring list - the closure of indoor operations for restaurants, wineries, movie theaters, family entertainment centers, zoos, museums, and cardrooms, for at least the next three weeks. Businesses in those sectors may still operate outdoors. While San Mateo County is not currently on the list, we’re asking that the community and our neighbors all do their part to help prevent additional closures in the future.

Located 28 miles south of San Francisco, the City of Half Moon Bay is a community of about 12,500 people, situated on the peninsula between forested hills and some of the most beautiful coastlines that California has to offer. Its historic downtown is home to numerous shops, art galleries, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, and other businesses, and its celebrated beaches and parks are wonders of nature, accessible to pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians. With its many activities and events, beautiful natural scenery, old-town charm, and abundance of retail and commercial services, Half Moon Bay is a regional destination. The City’s website is www.hmbcity.com.

This press release was produced by the City of Half Moon Bay California. The views expressed here are the author’s own.