Contact: Karen Ginsberg, Assistant Director of Community and Cultural Services, 310-458-8310

Celebrate Santa Monica’s Newest Eco-Forward Feat – Beach Green!

Santa Monica - The City of Santa Monica is proud to announce the opening of its newest eco-forward feat – Beach Green! Located at 2400 Barnard Way (just north of Ocean Park Blvd), Beach Green is more than a pretty patch of grass. Eighty-three parking spots on nearly an acre of asphalt have been removed to create a new beach park that will stop pollutants before they enter Santa Monica Bay. Beach Green will also reduce heat gain generated by paved parking lots. The turf is irrigated with a solar-powered system and is planted with Netlawn so it can accommodate cars when necessary (approximately 6 days per year). Both the new turf area and the adjacent asphalt area will be closed to vehicles for most of the year, creating a protected area for children learning to ride trikes and bikes, scooters and more.

This pilot project is primarily funded by a Clean Beaches Initiative Proposition 13 grant from the State Water Resources Control Board. In 2002, the Santa Monica Recreation & Parks Commission proposed the greening of the beach lots, identified this project as a commission priority and advocated to City Council on its behalf. With Council support, the City successfully applied for grant funding from the State’s 2003 Consolidated Grants Coastal Non-Point Source Control Program. As part of the grant, water quality in the area will be monitored to determine Beach Green’s impact. It is anticipated that Beach Green will demonstrate how to harvest and infiltrate runoff from the parking lot. As runoff passes through the soil, pollutants are treated through natural chemical and biological processes. By preventing, at the source, runoff pollutants from reaching the ocean water quality in the bay will be improved and marine beneficial uses protected.  Beach Green may provide a model for similar projects along the California Coast.

Several sites along Santa Monica State Beach were considered during a study of feasibility of the project. Working from a detailed analysis of four years worth of parking data, the lot at 2400 Barnard Way was identified as the best location for the project.

A community design process led by City staff and Mark Tessier Landscape Architects began in May 2007. Building upon the continued support of the Recreation & Parks Commission, the Coastal Commission approved the project in July 2007. Construction commenced in October 2007.

Walk, bike or skate over to celebrate the opening of Beach Green this Sunday, May 18^th, from 11 am to 2 pm. Bring your picnic baskets, lawn chairs, blankets, sunscreen and water for a family picnic. There will be fun activities for kids; speakers will include City of Santa Monica Mayor Herb Katz, environmental leaders Fran Diamond, Chair, Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, Noah Garrison, Project Attorney, NRDC and Susan Cloke, Chair, City of Santa Monica Recreation and Parks Commission.

Free bike/stroller valet service will be available. Fee-based parking is available in Beach Lot 4S (2030 Ocean Ave). Beach Green is served by Big Blue Bus lines 1, 2, and the MiniBlue Tide Ride. To request a disability-related accommodation, please call 310-458-8310 at least 3 business days in advance.

Beach Green is presented by the City of Santa Monica Departments of Community & Cultural Services, Environmental & Public Works Management, Community Maintenance, and Planning & Community Development, in partnership with the Santa Monica Recreation & Parks Commission and the California State and Los Angeles Regional Water Resources Control Board.