Goleta Pier Reopens After Repairs

From left to right: Bonnie Freeman, Janet Wolf, Renee Bahl, Jill Van Wie, Brian Switzer, and Paddy Langlands

The Goleta Beach Pier, which closed for a month after a March 2014 storm when it was badly beat up by waves and an unmoored sailboat, was reopened to the public on April 24. The 1,480-foot pier’s handrails and decking were repaired, and eight of its pilings were fully replaced. A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place last Friday to commemorate the re-opening.

“I want to thank the Coastal Commission for approving the necessary emergency permits to repair the pier and county staff for their diligent work in seeing this project through to completion,” said Second District Supervisor Janet Wolf in a prepared statement. “The Goleta Beach Pier is a vital resource to our community and especially to the anglers who use the pier for fishing.”

The repair work cost $277,000 and was paid for with money from the county’s General Fund. Goleta Beach County Park is the most heavily visited park in Santa Barbara, hosting 1.5 million residents and visitors every year. It’s one of the only places in California where one doesn’t need a license to fish.