City of Ventura to Allow Passive Use of Beaches Beginning Friday, May 29th

On Tuesday, May 26, 2020, the Ventura City Council unanimously voted to ease limited closure restrictions of Ventura's beaches and parks. The City's decision provides access to its parks, beaches, the Promenade, Pier, public restrooms and select parking lots.

For the last several weeks Ventura’s parks and beaches have been open for active recreational use, such as walking, jogging, swimming, and surfing. Beginning on May 29, these areas will also open for passive use, such as sitting and sunbathing as long as the public maintains a safe physical distance of six feet and avoids congregating in large groups outside of their immediate household.

Group activities such as volleyball, football, soccer, and other contact sports are not allowed.

Bathrooms and parking lots will also gradually reopen at parks and beaches throughout the City, starting with the Harbor Boulevard parking structure at the Pier. Public bathrooms will be cleaned daily with high touch surfaces properly disinfected regularly.

Sidewalks, walking paths, trails, and tracks within all public parks continue to remain open for active recreational use, including walking, hiking, jogging, running, or biking. Please follow public health guidance in the " Stay Well at Home " order, set by the Ventura County Health Officer.

Playgrounds, pools, courts, indoor facilities like museums and visitor centers, and sports and recreational fields will remain closed until further notice. If a park or beach becomes overcrowded or difficult for safe social distancing to be observed, the Ventura Police Department may order the area to be closed.

City signs will be posted to remind the public to continue to practice physical distance of six feet or more and abide by the County's " Stay Well at Home " order to limit the risk of exposure to the virus.

For the latest updates on impacts to the City of Ventura, visit www.CityofVentura.ca.gov/COVID19 . For public health information and updates happening in Ventura County, visit www.VCEmergency.com .

Ventura area beaches compiled at THIS LINK.

Santa Barbara County Parks, Beaches and Trails Remain Open for Day Use as of May 22nd

Santa Barbara County parks, open spaces, beaches and trails remain open for day use. Practice social distancing and adhere to guidelines for spending time outside alone or with household members only. Look for the less busy parks and open spaces in your neighborhood and visit those when possible. If parking lots are full then the park is too busy and you can come back another time. Limit your visits to about one hour so that others can use the park as well. Avoid loitering in parking lots. Working together we can prevent the spread of Covid-19 while keeping our parks, open spaces and beaches open for all to use. Continued violation of social distancing and group gathering guidelines could lead to park closure.

DAY-USE PARKS: All day-use parks and restrooms are currently open. Cachuma Lake and Jalama Beach remain open for a limited number of day-use vehicles.

BEACHES: All County beaches and beach access points are open. Maintain social distancing guidelines; no group activities allowed; do not block high traffic areas such as access points, stairs, ramps and hard-packed sand; consider going further down the beach to find space; limit your time at the beach so others may enjoy; no loitering in parking lots.

PLAYGROUNDS: All playgrounds in County Day-Use Parks and Neighborhood Open Spaces are closed.

BASKETBALL AND VOLLEYBALL: Basketball and Volleyball courts in County Day-Use Parks and Neighborhood Open Spaces are closed.

TENNIS COURTS: Tennis courts in County Day-Use Parks and Neighborhood Open Spaces are open.

GROUP AREAS: Group areas in all parks are closed; group reservations are cancelled.

BBQ and PICNIC TABLES: All BBQ and picnic tables in County Day-Use Parks and Neighborhood Open Spaces are closed.

DOG PARKS: All dog parks in County Day-Use Parks and Neighborhood Open Spaces are closed.

CAMPING PARKS: Cachuma Lake and Jalama Beach will open to camping on June 1st. Camping will be reservations only, no walk-ins will be accepted. Jalama cabins will be closed until June 11 and all existing Jalama cabin reservations during those dates will contacted by the county’s call center to cancel or reschedule.

GOLETA PIER: The Goleta Pier Boat Launch is closed.

JUNIOR LIFEGUARD PROGRAM: Hendry's JR Lifeguard program is cancelled for the Summer 2020 season.

COUNTY TRAILS: County trails are open with noted exception of Nojoqui Falls Trail being closed. Please hike alone or in family groups only; maintain social distancing of 6 ft; warn other of yours presence as you pass; step aside to allow others to pass; use trails during off peak times; if trail head parking is full then the trail is too busy and you can come back another time; no loitering at trail head parking.

Ventura County Library Website Updated to Include Features Available From Home

The Ventura County Library (VCL) website has a new look. Vencolibrary.org now highlights library resources available online including free live homework assistance by instructors and a resources page for Spanish speakers.

“Your Library at Home” features pages targeted to kids, teens, and adults. It is a one-stop-shop for individuals, parents, and teachers looking for librarian curated lists of online resources for distance learning as well as for fun.

The new pages for kids are:

· Kids’ Reading Resources for children's ebooks and audiobooks and chapter book read-alouds by VCL staff. Also listed are free ebook resources available during the COVID-19 school closures for kids from preschool through middle school.

· Virtual Storytime featuring live storytime events and recorded playlists of stories, songs, and rhymes performed by Ventura County librarians.

· Recursos en Español was created with Ventura County’s Spanish speaking community in mind. The page contains resources for Spanish speakers along with detailed instructions on how to translate various library pages from English to Spanish. Each link includes a description of the resource along with detailed access instructions. The resources are divided into three categories:

o Resources for everyone – fun for the entire family through CloudLibrary ebook and audiobook collection and the Spring Reading Challenge.

o Resources for kids and teens – keep children of all ages engaged while staying at home. Features include the new tutoring service, HelpNow, designed to help students with homework, and the California Science Center where bilingual STEAM activities are added daily.

o Resources for adults – features tools for learning, career, and citizenship, as well as downloadable National Geographic Magazine in Spanish.

· Just for Fun keeps kids busy and entertained with drawing lessons, activities from favorite children’s book authors, and digital escape rooms.

The new pages for kids and teens are:

· Online Learning contains live homework assistance for pre-kindergarten to grade 12 students with tutoring and skill building help through BrainFuse’s Help Now! service, at-a-glance links to VCL’s eLibrary resources organized by school subject, and recommended free online learning resources available during the COVID-19 school closures.

· STEAM Resources for students to explore their curiosity for all things relative to science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Included is the VCL STEAM Fun Playlist from YouTube featuring librarians as they explore fun STEAM topics through interactive lessons.

The new pages for teens are:

· Teens Reading features CloudLibrary, other digital book resources, and VCL’s Spring Reading Challenge.

· Boredom Busters has fun ideas to keep teens busy.

· Virtual Volunteering offers online volunteering opportunities for youth who need community service credit for school, or for those who want to help the library. There are also fun activities related to art, music, reading, gaming, and more.

On the new page for adults, find quick access to CloudLibrary, reader’s advisory, the Spring Reading Challenge, and genealogy resources.

Ventura County Library offers the community an online gathering place through its virtual library.

For additional information, contact Dana Vinke, Ventura County Library Deputy Director at (805) 212-9558.

Los Angeles County Beaches Will Reopen to the Public for Active Use on May 13th

Yesterday, it was announced that Los Angeles County beaches will reopen to the public on May 13th, subject to the following rules:

• Active use only - Swimming, surfing, running, walking, individual/family activities and exercise.

• No sunbathing, sitting on the sand, canopies, coolers or picnicking.

Physical distancing of at least 6 feet from others and face covering when outside the water and around others is required.

Beach parking lots, bike paths, piers and boardwalks remain closed at this time.

www.facebook.com/lacdbh/posts/3248124598552479

Santa Monica Mountains to Reopen Trails and Parking Lots on Saturday, May 9th

The National Park Service announced today that trails and parking lots will be reopening in the Santa Monica Mountains tomorrow.

Visitor centers at King Gillette Ranch and the Satwiwa Native American Cultural Center will remain closed for the time being. Solstice Canyon trails and parking lots will also remain closed.

Proper 6 foot social distancing must continue to be practiced. Bring a mask and wear it when you pass other people. Do not gather in groups - head outdoors with members of your household only. NPS encourages use of your nearest trails.

More details at www.facebook.com/santamonicamtns/photos/a.10152067500718660/10157339887273660/?type=3&theater.

Trails in the Conejo Open Space to Reopen on Weekends Beginning May 9th

Sunset Hills Trail in Thousand Oaks

Today, the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA) announced that trails are now open on weekends. Trailhead parking lots, except for the lot in Hill Canyon, remain temporarily closed.

The change in policy is being implemented based on the reopening of other outdoor areas in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. Starting May 9th, some, but not all, trails will be open in Los Angeles County, making more trails available regionally. Additional Ventura County trails are also expected to open. Making more outdoor space available meets community needs related to physical and mental health and provides additional outdoor space where residents can enjoy nature while maintaining required social distance.

COSCA reminds visitors that the coronavirus will remain in our community for an extended time, and this is not the end of social distancing and County health orders. Visitors must take responsibility for their personal and community safety when out in public. Compliance with the Ventura County Stay Well at Home Order, as well as posted COSCA directives and recommendations, are essential to this effort.

Physical distancing practices should continue (at least 6 feet). Do not gather in groups. Stick with members of your household. Do not congregate.

More information at conejo-openspace.org.

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Phased Re-Opening in the Coming Weeks

The County of Santa Barbara’s Public Health Department has recently reclassified the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden as an ‘essential business,’ paving the way for a phased re-opening of this beloved local institution in the weeks ahead.

“As the weather warms up, people continue seeking out safe outdoor activities during the Coronavirus pandemic,” said Steve Windhager, Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. “We are thrilled that, once proper planning is in place, the Garden can again be accessible as an outlet for nature-based recreation, inspiration, and healing to members of our community,”

While the Garden remains closed at this time, staff are planning a phased, gradual reopening that will allow an increase in visitor numbers over time based on how effectively safety protocols can be followed.

With its recent reclassification, the Garden is now permitted to host guests while adhering to a strict set of criteria that ensure the social distancing of its attendees. These will include advanced hands-free payment, on-site signage about social distancing protocols, the ability to wash and/or disinfect hands, the frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces, and even greater limitation on the number of guests that can be in the Garden at any one time.

“Nothing is more important than the safety of both the public and our staff,” said Dr. Windhager. “As such, the Garden is actively consulting with the County, our Board of Directors, and others to ensure a healthy experience for visitors and Garden staff that follows county guidelines.”

“We are working through a number of logistical and safety details that will guide our decision-making process in the days and weeks ahead,” said Dr. Windhager. “Additional information regarding our re-opening will be made available on our website and social media channels over the coming weeks.”

The Garden’s mission to conserve California native plants and habitats for the health and well-being of people and the planet is evident on site with over 1,000 taxa of exclusively California native plants, 5.5 miles of trails, and 78 acres, with a variety of cultivated displays, oak and riparian woodlands, a redwood forest, a desert section, and much more to explore.

For more information, visit www.sbbg.org.

Residents Who Visit County of Ventura Managed Beaches Urged to Follow Distancing Guidelines

Hollywood Beach

Residents who visit County of Ventura-managed beaches are urged to follow guidelines outlined in the Stay Well At Home Order issued by County of Ventura Public Health Officer Dr. Robert Levin.

Kiddie Beach, Silver Strand Beach and Hollywood Beach, managed by the Ventura County Harbor Department, have remained open for outdoor activity to afford residents relief. Residents are encouraged to use the beaches for essential physical activity such as walking, running, and jogging, while practicing social distancing guidelines. Beach visitors are not allowed to gather with groups on the beach outside their household.

“Ventura County residents should be proud of their efforts during this time and we want to make sure we continue to flatten the curve,” said Mark Sandoval, Harbor Department Director. “Practicing social distancing guidelines, particularly at the beach, is important. Not following these guidelines may result in our County-managed beaches being shut down for the foreseeable future.”

Director Sandoval said the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department will increase patrolling of the three beaches to ensure guidelines are being met.

Parking lots and bathrooms at the three beaches will remain closed.

Ventura City Council Vote to Re-Open Parks and Beaches On a Limited Basis

Tonight, the Ventura City Council voted to re-open parks and beaches in the City of Ventura on a “limited closure” basis.

What this means is that parks and beaches will be open for active use only. Walking, running, hiking, cycling and other recreational uses with proper 6 foot social distancing and participants in these activities do not linger in any location.

The Promenade, pier, sidewalks, walking paths, trails and tracks within all City of Ventura beaches are open for use by the public so long as gatherings are socially distanced and no more than 5 people (under the most current VC Public Health Order).

Large group gatherings and picnics will not be allowed at this time to abide by current Ventura County Stay at Home orders.

Parking lots, playgrounds, restrooms, pools, sports/recreational fields and picnic areas will continue to be closed.

Failure to comply with these rules could result in closures as necessary. Parks and beaches can be shut down when overcrowding becomes an issue.

More details at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/21039/12A