Edhat Reader
By Cyndi Coyne
A long time ago, I came to Santa Barbara from the frosty winters of Boston. It was a new world; the sunshine, palm trees, the smell of eucalyptus and the wicked cool sunsets that people actually applauded. But what stands out the most is my first day at Leadbetter Beach.
I was dazzled by it all; the color of the Pacific and how massive it seemed, seaweed that was too big to pop, people eating things called “tacos” and the use of beach lounge chairs set on their sides in the sand to block the breeze, while people tanned. I remember rinsing off in the outdoor showers. There were lots of people and we just took turns. I thought, how cool is this? They made this for people at the beach! I went into the changing area and started peeling off my wet bathing suit.
There were little birds chirping on the wall and I looked up. That’s when I saw that bright, blueness of the California sky above me and I suddenly became very aware that I was actually still outside. There was no roof! I distinctly remember thinking, “This, is Santa Barbara!”
I love how memory snaps photos of moments in our lives when our senses are heightened. My memory did not snap the number of the year but I’m guessing 1972 or 73. In 2009 I moved back to Santa Barbara. As much as I love to swim, I was reluctant and kept to my morning walks by Leadbetter for the first day or two. Then I saw several swimmers pretty far out in the ocean.
On my walk back, a large group were taking turns in the showers. I asked if they were the ones swimming. Indeed they were. I was invited to join them the next morning. And I did. Believe me, I was shaking in my two-piece at 8:00 a.m.. But I walked down to the water between two of those swimmers, admitting my fears. Daniel said, “Just swim fast at first and you’ll warm up.” I said it wasn’t the cold, it was the creatures. Mary Pat said kindly, “Well, you need to leave your fear back in your car, or go back to your car and sit with it.” And with that!, I waddled through the kelp and swam with them and whatever other creatures were underneath us.
After our swim I was lit with energy and gratitude and freezing cold. We ran to the bathhouse, put our towels and clothes on the concrete bench in the center. Some sat on the bench to remove their wetsuits and we all showered. Shivering, I got my clothes, went into the changing room and began to peel off my suit. The moment of recognition, I remembered the wall. The color, the texture. Immediately, I looked up. There it was, that California blue sky. And there I was, standing in the snapshot of my memory. I thought, “I’m in Santa Barbara! This!, is Santa Barbara.”
Since then, I’ve been swimming with many groups at different times of the day. Some groups swim all year round. COVID brought tons of pool swimmers to the ocean. This increased the value and our appreciation of our six outdoor shower heads with wall protection and our outdoor changing rooms, with fresh air and no roofs!
I stand with the Leadbetter Beach Community letter opposing the proposed renovation of our Leadbetter Shower Facility. Below I’ve pulled points from our community written letter.
We 100% support the much needed ADA compliant toilets. We are aware of the public safety issues after dark. Both of these concerns can be addressed simply without demolishing the existing facility which serves the public so well.
Security solutions; Patrol the area after sunset with scheduled “security walk-arounds” in addition to driving by. Add gates to the changing area and anti-climbing devices.
The Leadbetter Beach Bathhouse has become a part of Santa Barbara’s history. It has survived every storm that Santa Barbara has seen since it was built. The structure was designed with such a mindful knowledge of its users, we hope it will survive the proposed plans for renovation.
Op-Ed’s are written by community members, not representatives of edhat. The views and opinions expressed in Op-Ed articles are those of the author’s.
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Another City of SB steamroll over what the citizens want. Why are we not being listened to? These staff and their highly paid consultants (at taxpayer expense, of course) have poor judgement in both a civic and business sense..Bulb-outs anyone?
Staff: please do not cite safety issues after dark when we as swimmers and pedestrians been dealing with it for years. Can you not listen to the community who actually use the facility? CLEARLY, the outside showers can be renovated AFTER the main building is completed. Do not destroy what works is something you all need to learn.
Do as the community asks or find another career in another town. Take input at the front end of the process; no hidden meetings, no white lies.
Want an idea of something that does not work now that worked for decades?: Cabrillio Arts “Beach Level Amenities.” This place is a disaster. It seems as if it was designed to fail, thus giving staff more room for office facilities with ocean views when it inevitably gets shut down for lack of use. The place worked well including the restaurant for decades.
YOU, City staff screwed that facility up beyond repair. Leadbetter is not going to suffer that fate – this is a stake in the sand. We’re not going away. Perhaps you need to retire now if you disagree.
https://www.change.org/p/preserve-leadbetter-beach-walls-changing-areas-santa-barbara?recruited_by_id=c7b09d50-b67a-11ee-bcae-ff59029193fb
Couldn`t agree more! Don`t let the inmates run the asylum! Very simple fixes to accomplish safe use of the showers.
Who is organizing this effort? I would like to contact.
https://www.change.org/p/preserve-leadbetter-beach-walls-changing-areas-santa-barbara?recruited_by_id=c7b09d50-b67a-11ee-bcae-ff59029193fb
why would you think we need a safety patrol in the evenings? I use it almost nightly as does my daughter as it’s in our path during our runs, walks, bike rides. We use that facility quite a bit actually and have never, not once seen any weirdness there.
She is a young teen and feels totally safe using it at night. City of SB doesn’t control the water front. That is a totally different group/department. The waterfront may be the ones you should talk to about the renovations. I think the directors name is Mike. Good luck. He doesn’t like to listen to reality.
The bathroom is perfectly fine the way it is. Well it could use some minor repair work and regular maintenance. The city and waterfront are notorious for not maintaining what they put out there.
Lovely writing!
The Harbor Patrol does “patrol” the area and parking lots… But there is no enforcement of vagrants camping or loitering on the beaches or parking lots… What are they supposed to do…? Their hands are tied (or cuffed).
The “City of SB” is once again proving how out of touch they are. I’m glad the folks who regularly use the facility are speaking up, and I’m not talking about the “unhoused” vagrants and druggies. Hopefully if they make enough noise someone at City Hall will listen.
https://www.change.org/p/preserve-leadbetter-beach-walls-changing-areas-santa-barbara?recruited_by_id=c7b09d50-b67a-11ee-bcae-ff59029193fb
This is not a city of SB effort, funded by the General Fund, but a Waterfront Dept plan. They are an enterprise fund, answerable to themselves, overseen (sort of) by the Harbor Commission.
There is a special HC meeting this afternoon at 4. According to the posted agenda, it will be at the Waterfront Classroom on Harborway. (that is on the second floor, above the PO, the mini mart, etc.)
Speak at public comment! The HC oversees the Department budget. They have a duty to make sure that the slip fees, parking fees, and business rentals that provide the budget are well spent. Even though this is last minute, try to several people to speak about how the present Leadetter shower situation needs but minor improvements.