Pacifica Beach Parking Lots, Restrooms To Open Saturday: Report

PACIFICA, CA — Parking lots and restrooms at area beaches are expected to open this weekend, but to what extent that happens and where will be determined on a case-by-case basis, according to a published report.

Gabe McKenna, the public safety superintendent for California State Parks, told the San Mateo Daily Journal that restrictions at beaches statewide will be lifted beginning Saturday, but that not all areas will allow parking areas and restrooms to open.

However, the report stated that Pacifica city officials are anticipating reopening beach parking on Saturday.

San Mateo County remains under a stay at home order, which prohibits residents from going to the beach from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. According to the Daily Journal, Pacifica city officials expect a new public health order to be issued on Friday that will loosen restrictions on beaches.

But, according to McKenna, the key word is 'loosen'.

“We’re not looking at this as a reopening, we’re just increasing access,” McKenna told the newspaper. “We’re increasing access in the parking lots and restrooms, but not at max capacity level.”

According to the report, areas where parking areas and restrooms do open will be limited and can change depending on how the transition goes. Parking lots and restrooms at county beaches have been closed since late March when the coronavirus pandemic began impacting daily life.

But as certain areas of California have started to reopen, local governments have been working with health officials to determine at what rate reopening should begin.

McKenna said that this weekend’s scheduled openings of parking lots and restrooms is no different.

“We’re still urging people to stay home,” McKenna told the Daily Journal. “This isn’t a push to bring people to beaches. We still have a shelter in place in effect.”