https://www.sandiegouniontribune.co...mperial-beach-pier-the-best-on-the-west-coast
Any San Diego anglers out there? Do you feel these changes will be good for anglers?
The San Diego Union-Tribune
Port wants to make Imperial Beach pier the best on the West Coast
By Tammy Murga, Jan. 30, 2022
IMPERIAL BEACH — The Port of San Diego wants to make California’s southernmost pier, which stands in the waters off Imperial Beach, the best in the west by 2024.
“We want to make this the best pier on the West Coast and that’s really not hyperbole. That is really what we’re trying to do here,” Port Chairman Dan Malcolm, who represents the South County city, told the Imperial Beach City Council on Jan. 19.
Built in 1963, the wood-plank pier is a few blocks south of Evergreen Avenue and extends about 1,500 feet out west toward the western horizon. It’s a popular destination for beachgoers and surfers as it covers the entire surf zone and attracts anglers who say they catch from the pier the best fish in the area, from yellowtail to thresher sharks.
There are also restrooms, benches and the Tin Fish, which is the only restaurant on the pier. Nearby is the iconic, colorful Portwood Pier Plaza entrance, parks, bike paths, restaurants and shops.
The Port owns the pier and contracts with Imperial Beach to provide services such as public safety.
While already an iconic and important source of revenue for the city, the Port is looking to attract more foot traffic via a series of enhancement projects that would be located near the beach area, or the easternmost portion of the pier, as well as mid-pier and toward its end on the west side.
On the beach area, the Port is looking to build outposts with modern, cable railing and custom-made furniture. The main attraction will be a three-dimensional canopy that will give visitors a “beneath the waves” perspective like the view surfers have before emerging from the water.
“When you’re underneath the waves … and when you’re coming back up, you’ll kind of see a mirrored surface,” said Malcolm, adding that the design re-creates that image with shadows of a surfboard and seafoam.
Mid-pier, which already has extensions on its sides and restrooms, will also get new furniture and a similar canopy with a 3-dimensional shark figure. Near the end of the pier, the Port wants to replace old panels with clear, Plexiglass to provide visitors with better views of the pier’s infrastructure and the ocean.
“What we were looking for was merging function and art,” Malcolm said about the project designs.
The Port has already installed several new murals and fishing rod holders. There are also plans to incorporate informational storyboards about the pier’s history, distance markers and new fishing cleaning stations.
Council members said they appreciated that the Port was incorporating amenities for anglers, especially after a heated discussion last year when the City Council decided to continue prohibiting fishing at the end of the pier and allow it farther east. The city determined that the move, which started during the pandemic, kept the area cleaner but anglers said they were unfairly being singled out.
“I really like that there’s a focus on our fishing community because I think, first and foremost, as beautiful as we want to envision... our coastal ... bayfront infrastructure, I think it’s important for us to always continue to think about accessibility for all,” said Councilmember Paloma Aguirre.
Councilmember Ed Spriggs raised concern for the Tin Fish, which has been open for more than 10 years, amid enhancements to the pier.
“It seems to me, especially the way Imperial Beach has been developing as a visitor-serving community and its restaurants and other amenities, that that’s kind of a missing piece in what the Port is thinking about for the pier,” said Spriggs.
Malcolm said there are possibilities for improving the restaurant or even bringing in a second business, although the current priority is to complete the other pier projects.
All the improvements will cost a total of $3.9 million, with the beach area project costing the most at $2.29 million, according to the Port. The agency plans to use $2.5 million in capital improvement plan funding and COVID-19 stimulus dollars. Malcolm said he is certain the Port can get the remaining $1.4 million.
With a phased approach, Malcolm said he believes the pier will not be closed to the public during construction, which is slated to begin at the end of this year and be complete by 2024.
Over the past 10 years, the Port has invested nearly $2 million to refurbish the deck, replace lighting and make other pier repairs. The Port also helped pay for the $2.7 million reconstruction of the pier after more than 500 feet went down during the 1982-83 winter storms.
Any San Diego anglers out there? Do you feel these changes will be good for anglers?
The San Diego Union-Tribune
Port wants to make Imperial Beach pier the best on the West Coast
By Tammy Murga, Jan. 30, 2022
IMPERIAL BEACH — The Port of San Diego wants to make California’s southernmost pier, which stands in the waters off Imperial Beach, the best in the west by 2024.
“We want to make this the best pier on the West Coast and that’s really not hyperbole. That is really what we’re trying to do here,” Port Chairman Dan Malcolm, who represents the South County city, told the Imperial Beach City Council on Jan. 19.
Built in 1963, the wood-plank pier is a few blocks south of Evergreen Avenue and extends about 1,500 feet out west toward the western horizon. It’s a popular destination for beachgoers and surfers as it covers the entire surf zone and attracts anglers who say they catch from the pier the best fish in the area, from yellowtail to thresher sharks.
There are also restrooms, benches and the Tin Fish, which is the only restaurant on the pier. Nearby is the iconic, colorful Portwood Pier Plaza entrance, parks, bike paths, restaurants and shops.
The Port owns the pier and contracts with Imperial Beach to provide services such as public safety.
While already an iconic and important source of revenue for the city, the Port is looking to attract more foot traffic via a series of enhancement projects that would be located near the beach area, or the easternmost portion of the pier, as well as mid-pier and toward its end on the west side.
On the beach area, the Port is looking to build outposts with modern, cable railing and custom-made furniture. The main attraction will be a three-dimensional canopy that will give visitors a “beneath the waves” perspective like the view surfers have before emerging from the water.
“When you’re underneath the waves … and when you’re coming back up, you’ll kind of see a mirrored surface,” said Malcolm, adding that the design re-creates that image with shadows of a surfboard and seafoam.
Mid-pier, which already has extensions on its sides and restrooms, will also get new furniture and a similar canopy with a 3-dimensional shark figure. Near the end of the pier, the Port wants to replace old panels with clear, Plexiglass to provide visitors with better views of the pier’s infrastructure and the ocean.
“What we were looking for was merging function and art,” Malcolm said about the project designs.
The Port has already installed several new murals and fishing rod holders. There are also plans to incorporate informational storyboards about the pier’s history, distance markers and new fishing cleaning stations.
Council members said they appreciated that the Port was incorporating amenities for anglers, especially after a heated discussion last year when the City Council decided to continue prohibiting fishing at the end of the pier and allow it farther east. The city determined that the move, which started during the pandemic, kept the area cleaner but anglers said they were unfairly being singled out.
“I really like that there’s a focus on our fishing community because I think, first and foremost, as beautiful as we want to envision... our coastal ... bayfront infrastructure, I think it’s important for us to always continue to think about accessibility for all,” said Councilmember Paloma Aguirre.
Councilmember Ed Spriggs raised concern for the Tin Fish, which has been open for more than 10 years, amid enhancements to the pier.
“It seems to me, especially the way Imperial Beach has been developing as a visitor-serving community and its restaurants and other amenities, that that’s kind of a missing piece in what the Port is thinking about for the pier,” said Spriggs.
Malcolm said there are possibilities for improving the restaurant or even bringing in a second business, although the current priority is to complete the other pier projects.
All the improvements will cost a total of $3.9 million, with the beach area project costing the most at $2.29 million, according to the Port. The agency plans to use $2.5 million in capital improvement plan funding and COVID-19 stimulus dollars. Malcolm said he is certain the Port can get the remaining $1.4 million.
With a phased approach, Malcolm said he believes the pier will not be closed to the public during construction, which is slated to begin at the end of this year and be complete by 2024.
Over the past 10 years, the Port has invested nearly $2 million to refurbish the deck, replace lighting and make other pier repairs. The Port also helped pay for the $2.7 million reconstruction of the pier after more than 500 feet went down during the 1982-83 winter storms.
Hey: Anyone got a link for Darwin awards?