Grass areas near beach are closed

HUNTINGTON BEACH police units on the beach (HBPD photo).

In an effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus and to enforce “social distancing,” the City of Huntington Beach is closing all grass areas along city beaches effective today (Friday).

Closed to the public are the grass areas along Pacific Coast Highway near the city beach and on both sides of the bike path between Seapoint Street and 9th Street. That also includes the large grass area between 9th and 11th streets and the picnic area south of Seapoint Street.

To underline the closures, the city is installing 500 signs spaced 50 feet apart along the grassy areas and the area between 9th and 11th will be fenced off. Increased police patrols in those areas are underway.

Despite state and local orders for people to stay home and go out only for essential purposes such as grocery shopping, work, meadical reasons and exercise, overcrowding continues to be an issue in Surf City’s beach areas, as it is in other shoreline communities in California.

Social distancing means keeping at least six feet away from other people.