The North Coast Facilities and Management Plan lays out 41 projects for the stretch of coast between the city of Santa Cruz and the San Mateo county line. Most of the projects increase parking, add trash cans and build bathrooms at popular stops along Highway One. Some will build new trails and campsites.
A working group of 21 federal, state and local agencies and nonprofits developed the plan. Partners include the Bureau of Land Management, the California Department of Transportation, California State Parks, the County of Santa Cruz, and many more.
A few meeting attendees, like Davenport resident Bruce Duncan, were concerned with road safety.
“There have been a lot of accidents and fatalities on the highway," he said. "And we just want things to be addressed so that does not happen, especially with increased demand."
Trash was another concern shared by many of the residents, including Duncan.
“For years, we've done a lot of our own cleanup, and now it’s actually really exciting to see a coordinated interagency effort to address these problems in a holistic way," he said. "Restrooms for people to use, places to put their garbage—just make it a clean place that everyone can enjoy together.”
Robert Tidmore is a park planner for Santa Cruz County who led the meeting. He says the engagement reflects the community’s dedication to the land.
"There's a lot of love and care that the residents have for this area. And so that comes out very strongly in the community meetings," he said.
The working group is seeking public input about the plan before December 18th. To review the draft plan and access the survey, visit Santa Cruz County Park's current list of projects.
