CityofSantaBarbara
The park received its first turf renovation in almost 60 years, new public barbecues, and refreshed landscaping
The City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation Department has reopened Leadbetter Beach Park after a 12-week closure for park improvements. The project included the park’s first turf renovation since its development in 1965. It required a complete regrading of the park’s grassy areas to create a safer, more level surface before installing 1.2 acres of new grass.
Kikuyu, the new grass variety selected for Leadbetter Beach, grows deep roots and requires less surface watering once the root system is established. The variety is also salt tolerant and hardy, which should help it withstand the heavy, year-round use the beachfront park receives. The warm weather grass is expected to yellow whenever temperatures drop below 40° and the grass goes dormant, but the deep roots should allow new growth to come in green as temperatures warm again.
The recent cool, wet weather did impact the turf project, with the growth of the fungus fusarium leading to brown circular patches on the grass. Fusarium is harmless to humans and pets and occurs naturally in many locations across the region. When fusarium impacts turf areas in City parks, staff wait for the fungus to die back naturally before applying more seed to fill bare patches. No fungicides or herbicides were used at any point during the turf renovation process.
The turf renovation was part of an ongoing initiative by the Parks and Recreation Department to invest in the safety, function, and beauty of the City’s public green spaces after use surged during the pandemic and remains at a record high.
“A lot of work goes into maintaining the turf on our athletic fields, but we don’t often have the chance to give the same attention to our passive parks used by so many people in the community,” said Parks Manager Simon Herrera. “We are excited to see this park filled with activity again, and hope people enjoy the improvements.”
The park received additional upgrades during the closure, including the installation of 14 new barbecues, one for each picnic site, and refreshed landscaping. The City’s Forestry staff also used the closure to prune the park’s Canary Island date palms.
The turf renovation was funded by the America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which provided state and local governments with funding to invest in programs and services heavily impacted by the pandemic. The Parks and Recreation Department selected parks to receive ARPA-funded turf renovations based on heavy use, turf condition, and regular funding to maintain the renovation once completed. Renovations at Alameda Park, Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden, Chase Palm Park, Mission Historical Park, Oak Park, and Willowglen Park were completed in 2023.
The additional park improvements were funded by the Parks Division budget, allocated within the City’s general fund.
The City’s Waterfront Department is expected to renovate nearby public restroom facilities for ADA compliance later this year. This will be the first renovation of the facilities since they were constructed in 1969. More information on that project can be found here.
this is great and much needed! however, leave the restrooms alone! there is nothing wrong with them at all and your plans to destroy the wall and shower heads is a bad move and we the folks the use it and have used it for decades have spoken. If the waterfront director, Mike, makes this change ignoring the hundreds that have spoken up, he further proves hes in the job for a check and not to work with us…..
Have y’all written to him? Called? Made an appointment so you can deliver signatures to him?
Loop in/copy City Council members too. Post signs at the showers with a contact number or address so you can collect names of supporters? Change.org petition? Lots here will sign it. Seems it needs to be public in order to exert pressure. I know you ocean water people have done a lot. I’m not a water person, but I do support your take on this beachfront resource.
City Council email addresses:
https://santabarbaraca.gov/government/mayor-city-council/contact-mayor-council
You have to click on each name, then their address is under their picture.
I hate to say it I’m sure it will grow in, but it looks terrible. Looks worse now after spending millions of dollars probably?
huh? i was there yesterday. its beautiful, green, flat and very well done.
You must have been looking at the wrong park
Looks pretty good to me, anon!
video:
https://keyt.com/news/santa-barbara-s-county/2024/01/17/leadbetter-beach-park-reopens-after-turf-renovation/
The old grass never got a fungus and worked fine – leave well enough alone !! unless it’s someone else’s money that your spending with no accountability WHAT SO EVER