SeeCalifornia.com

MENDOCINO COAST, CALIF. — It’s hot as Hades in Southern California today as hundreds of thousands use the beaches and lesser numbers go to shine them up on California Coastal Cleanup Day. The crowded, popular and hot Southern California beaches (hitting up to 100 degrees in some places!) charge fees for parking ranging from a few bucks to $15-20. While some tourists and beach-goers pay the price, others opt for parking in neighborhoods nearby in front of people’s houses, and walk to the beach a few blocks or even a mile when that option is available.  The California State Beaches in Southern California are the state parks biggest profit makers. They generally charge around $15 for beach access.

Meanwhile, on the Mendocino coast today the temperature is under 60 degrees. A cool wind blows against the skin, and it’s perfect jacket or sweater weather at beaches where parking is absolutely free! They may not be free for long if California State Parks has its way.  A proposal to charge parking fees has angered Mendocino County residents who say their beaches are different and the rules that apply to other parts of the coast aren’t wanted there.

When Mendocino District Sector Superintendent Loren Rex recently unveiled a nifty set of signs announcing parking fees at the  Mendocino Historical Review Board meeting, his visual display set off a wave of emotion, causing the board to pull back and enter discussion about the concept of charging for beach parking.   While charging a fee to park at the Headlands isn’t part of the design review board’s tasks, the general consensus is that imposing fees diminishes character and quality of life, and would affect surrounding residential streets. The proposal for the signs was voted down.

Meanwhile on another front, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution in late August opposing California State Parks plan to charge a day use fee at all of the current free access parks in Mendocino County and other north coast beaches and parks. The Board opposes  the assessment and has requested that until the State Department of Parks and Recreation has adequately accounted for all funding streams and determined no other viable funding alternatives exist to ensure free and open access to our state parks, the fee plan be tabled.