Carlsbad Parks, Trails, Beach and Golf Course to Open
Following a special meeting Friday, the Carlsbad City Council approved the following plans and timelines related to easing COVID-19 public health restrictions:
Beaches: Open at earliest Monday at 9 a.m., in coordination with State Parks
In Carlsbad, the city controls only about three-quarters of a mile of beach, north of Oak Avenue to the Oceanside border. State Parks owns and manages the other six miles of Carlsbad's coastline. City and State Parks staff have been working together to coordinate the opening at the same time, although the state has not formally announced its timing. The City of Carlsbad's North Beach will only open in unison with the State Parks opening of its beaches within the city limits. Once both segments of beach are reopened, the modified operating hours will be 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Allowed
• Walking, running, swimming, kayaking, surfing, bodyboarding, body surfing, paddle boarding, snorkeling and scuba diving from the shore
• Paddleboarding and kayaking at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon entrances
• Fishing only allowed from a kayak or boat due to county health order
Not allowed
• Stopping, sitting or lying down on the beach (sand)
• Gatherings of any kind, games or sports
• Volleyball, football, frisbee, soccer, yoga, calisthenics or similar activities where you stay in one place
Carlsbad parks: Open to limited use starting Monday at 2 p.m.
City owned parks will reopen to limited use starting Monday, May 4, at 2 p.m. The modified operating hours will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• "Passive use" only, such as walking, jogging, sitting on the grass.
• No active use, such as sports games. This is stricter than the county health order, which allows sports activities among people who live together.
• All community centers, aquatic centers, athletic fields, sports courts, playgrounds, dog parks, skate parks and similar areas will remain closed for now.
• Number of parking lot spaces will be reduced by at least 50%, as required by the County of San Diego health order.
The following parks fall under these rules:
Alga Norte Community Park
Cadencia Park
Cannon Park
Hidden Canyon Community Park
Hosp Grove Park
Laguna Riviera Park
Maxton Brown Park
Pine Avenue Community Park
Stagecoach Community Park
Aviara Community Park
Calavera Hills Community Park
Frazee/Tamarack Upper Picnic Areas
Holiday Park
La Costa Canyon Park
Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park
Magee Park
Poinsettia Community Park
Chase Field, Zone 5 park (a sports field) and school sites managed by the City of Carlsbad will remain closed.
City-owned trails: Open Monday, May 4, at 2 p.m.
• Modified operating hours will be 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Batiquitos Lagoon Trail is not owned or managed by the city and is currently closed. For information visit the Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation website.
Crossings at Carlsbad Golf Course: Open Saturday, May 2, at 8 a.m.
The city-owned golf course will open according to the limitations and requirements of the county public health order, including:
• No golf carts (unless needed to meet ADA requirements)
• No congregating
• No sit-down food service
• All employees and patrols to undergo temperature screening
• Visit
All parks, trails, beaches and golf courses in Carlsbad must adhere to county and state public health orders, including new face covering rules. Starting May 1, everyone must have a face covering when they leave their homes and put it on when they cannot maintain a 6-foot distance from people they don't live with (kids under 2 and people with health conditions preventing use of a face covering are exempt).
Photo Getty Images