It’s not the most glamorous beach — but it now has sand.
Toni Nelson looked out at Capistrano Beach on Friday afternoon, May 24, at two fire rings, a site where a bathroom building stood before this small stretch of county-owned land was damaged by storms.
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The popular basketball courts, buckled by strong waves, also were wiped out, replaced with concrete picnic tables lined up just steps from the sand.
After months of emergency work, including hauling in 475 sand cubes and putting in rip-rap rock to protect what’s left, Capistrano Beach will re-open to the public on Saturday.
“I think they did a great job, they had very little time,” said Nelson, who has served as a community liaison using the Facebook group Capo Cares. “We really wanted our beach back for the summer. I’m really happy we have something.”
And here’s an insider tip: The county hasn’t gotten around to putting in new meters, so for now, parking is free.
That said, there are less parking spots, about 60 shy of what once lined the small lot, covered now by a line of white, 3-foot-tall concrete walls that will widen a pathway for bikers, walkers, and access for visitors with disabilities.
“It’s not going to be perfect, but it will be enough for people to come out and enjoy,” said Arturo Castillo, park ranger with OC Parks.
The area for years has been chipped away by strong surf, high tides and rising sea levels, a sign of what experts say will happen in many spots dotting California’s coastline in years to come. It was once a vast stretch of sand, wide enough for volleyball courts and dozens of fire rings and a row of palm trees. But it give way to Mother Nature.
The loss of beach is a hot topic at many Southern California beaches as the sea level rises and construction along the coast, and inland, chokes sediment from flowing freely down rivers and waterways.
Several big storms over the winter battered the already beaten beach. One storm in November was so devastating it exposed old cars buried among the rocks and collapsed a wooden walkway and sea wall.
There are still no stairs leading down to the lower level of beach, and workers have to monitor the area to make sure what they put in doesn’t get washed away with the next storm.
For safety, a chain-link fence was installed near the two fire rings, with a third fire pit planned for farther down the beach.
Nelson said while Capo Beach, as it is, will do for now, residents are putting in their requests for a long-term plan and the county is requesting public input for the ongoing discussion.
However, she said a few things are at the top of the priority list.
Sand is number one, the more the better; second, a small wall farther back near the parking lot that can keep sand on the correct side of the beach is needed. Then, a walkway like what existed before — if possible, made out of wood — would be welcome.
Some residents, including Nelson, would love to see the county allow dogs on the beach during certain hours as they do in South Laguna. And perhaps they could have an area for kids with a sandbox or swings, and one day, maybe two small bathroom stalls.
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Last-minute fixes are still being done and sections will be blocked off as work continues on weekdays.
But Castillo said ensuring the public had access to Capo Beach by summer was important.
“If I were to take off my uniform, I’m a member of the community too,” said Castillo, who lives in Mission Viejo but often comes to the beach with his kids. “I remember coming here kayaking. Not only is it nostalgic, but it’s important for children to come outside, just getting them away from video games and teaching them about the ecosystem, just getting them out to enjoy what we have.”
He said he’ll be watching the area closely when the next big swell shows up.
“I will be here,” he said. “We have to monitor what goes down and what happens, just so we can get data on how to better work with it. You can’t fight Mother Nature.”
But for now, Nelson said, it’s important to keep trying to fight for what’s left. She said she hopes to be there over the Memorial Day weekend to celebrate the re-opening, s’mores in hand to roast over the fire.
“We have to keep this because we’re Capistrano Beach. If we don’t have a beach, what are we – just Capistrano?” she said, noting the area’s rich history, where Hobie Alter launched his Hobie Catamarans and surf icons still live along Beach Road.
“We have to accept the reality,” she said. “But if we can save this beach for a couple of decades, it’s worth it. It’s a whole generation of children who will be able to use it.”
