A funny thing just happened about local lifeguard stations. Not funny funny, but odd funny and something that disparages Ocean Beach — again.
All of a sudden, the San Diego Fire-Rescue department — the city department in charge of the lifeguards and their stations — is insisting on an emergency $1 million in repairs to the Mission Beach Lifeguard Tower. And a city council committee, the Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will be having Fire-Rescue make its case for the necessary repairs at the at 1:00 p.m. Thursday City Hall meeting. And Jen Campbell, who also of course represents Mission Beach is on board for the emergency monies — despite the city’s funding crisis.
They’re all saying that the Mission Beach Lifeguard Tower is facing serious structural issues that demand immediate attention, and is showing significant signs of wear and tear, prompting concerns about its ability to withstand further deterioration. San Diego Fire-Rescue is calling for these emergency repairs to address the building’s failing condition, with the possibility of falling debris becoming a serious hazard. Channel 8 reports, “According to an inspection by the City’s Development Services in November, the situation is so severe that without immediate action, the structure could become unsafe for lifeguards and the general public.”
This could all be accurate and good.
But, hey, what about the Ocean Beach lifeguard station? It’s been falling apart for years and the community has been requesting for repairs or a replacement. For years.
Now, comparisons are rough. The Mission Beach station is one of the busiest in the city. Mission Beach also has a town council that speaks up for the community’s needs and wants.
Casey Fields, President of the Mission Beach Town Council, a volunteer nonprofit, told the press, “The most important thing is the structural integrity of the building, and that needs to be preserved so that way the building can continue to be used.” CBS8 adds:
This lifeguard station at 3141 Ocean Front Walk is one of the busiest in San Diego, and any disruption in its operation would impact public safety and the lifeguards who serve the area. Fields noted that while a temporary fix would keep the building functional, a long-term solution is essential. …
“Best case scenario is ‘let’s get it patched up, keep it working and then come up with a long-term plan,'” Fields said. “But don’t wait for it to be condemned before we replace it. Let’s keep it going because it’s a really solid station.”
CBS8 also tries to do a comparison to other lifeguard stations:
For comparison, other lifeguard stations in San Diego have already undergone significant renovations. The Pacific Beach station, for example, was renovated in 2016 and remains in good condition. The La Jolla Shores tower, built just 12 years ago, replaced an older facility that was demolished.
The local TV station failed to report that South Mission Beach was built a brand new tower in 2019. And of course, OB wasn’t even mentioned.
They conclude:
However, the Mission Beach lifeguard tower is showing its age. The station is in much worse shape compared to its counterparts, with visible signs of corrosion and disrepair that could soon pose a risk to those working and visiting the area.
They admit that “While the repairs would only extend the building’s usability for a few more years, a new facility is already being discussed. District 2 City Councilmember Jennifer Campbell shared that the repairs would “extend the habitability for a few more years, while plans are finalized for a new facility.”
In a statement emailed to CBS 8, Councilmember Campbell said, “These repairs unfortunately cannot wait any longer, and emergency action must be taken to secure the funds to assess, design, and repair the building immediately. We must ensure that our lifeguards have the equipment and facilities they need to support the work that they do to keep our beaches safe.” CBS8
Back in OB, the Rag has been covering this issue for years. OB’s tower was built in 1980-81, according to former city councilmember Byron Wear in a comment to the Rag.
April 2019 — The Rag reported that “Friends of the OB Library are pretty riled up. Mayor Faulconer did not include any funds for the Ocean Beach branch’s expansion. Nor did he include any funds for the OB Lifeguard station. But it’s the lack of monies for the planned but decades-delayed expansion of the OB Library that’s most concerning – and insulting. … OB Lifeguards are also asking OBceans to advocate for funds for the new lifeguard station promised Ocean Beach.”
The Friends even organized a carpool to City Hall that morning.
In May 2017, members of the OB Town Council advocated for a new OB Lifeguard Station before the San Diego City Council. Gretchen Newsom – then president of the OBTC stated:
I stand here to inform you that the Ocean Beach Town Council is in support of Councilmember Lorie Zapf’s efforts to obtain design funding for a new Ocean Beach Lifeguard Station as identified in her 2018 Budget Priorities memorandum. This project is consistent with the Ocean Beach Community Plan and is a long time advocated need within the community and by community based organizations.
The Ocean Beach Lifeguard Station was constructed 40 years ago and has lacked adequate improvements and renovations. The popularity of Ocean Beach has also grown and just last year, Ocean Beach Lifeguards performed over 1,000 water rescues.
Additionally, Lifeguard staffing along Sunset Cliffs was increased due to demand. While these Lifeguards positions were funded in this year’s budget, they have put an increased strain on equipment and locker needs at the existing station. The current station is inadequate to accommodate this additional staff and equipment.
In June of 2017, the Rag reported on a meeting of the OB Planning Board. The Board included a new lifeguard station as its number one priority for the community’s Capital Project list, and then went on a brain-storming session.
Brain-Storming for OB’s New Lifeguard Station
Board members spent part of the meeting dreaming – or, rather brain-storming about what they’d like to see in any new lifeguard station. The goal is to give city engineers ideas for the facility, now that $200,000 has been budgeted to perform an assessment. The current lifeguard station contains 1200 square feet with the new one doubling that.
Here are some of the ideas for the new lifeguard station:
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- Include police sub-station or support-facility,
- double the size, taller and wider,
- make it a “dream center” of 21st century first-responder center,
- have it be of a green design with LEED certification,
- public restrooms and showers,
- gender restrooms and showers for lifeguard personnel,
- include staff kitchen,
- space for cliff rescuers,
- community meeting space,
- training area for junior lifeguards,
- an amphitheater,
- design that fits the community.
In May 2015, a group of OB leaders attended the City Council hearing on the mayor’s budget on Monday and gave the politicos an earful of what Ocean Beach has in infrastructural needs. On top of their agenda was the lifeguard station and the OB Library.
In December 2012, this writer made a list of what OB needed for Christmas. A new lifeguard station was Number 2 on that list (Number 1 was a new library):
2. New Lifeguard Station
Yes, the lifeguard station at the foot of Santa Monica Avenue did just get a new paint job. But the facility needs to be demolished and a brand new one built. The current one was constructed a half century ago – yup, about 50 years ago, and such a highly-used center for our life guards – needed first responders – is way overdue for replacement.
La Jolla just got a new lifeguard station; Pacific Beach just got a new lifeguard station … and OB got … a new public restroom at the foot of Brighton – yes, state of the art – but not a new station.
In fact, we need a new lifeguard station for our living lifeguards more than we need a bronze memorial to the past. Both would be nice – and we’ll probably get the statute a lot sooner than a new station – but the station is what OB needs – now.
And in November 2010, the Rag asked: “La Jolla gets a new lifeguard station. Why doesn’t OB?” We went on:
It’s one of those perennial problems during economic hard times. One community is chosen for a new addition to its infrastructure while other communities are not. And those communities left out are left only with complaints.
It’s happened again.
Groundbreaking for a new lifeguard station in La Jolla occurred on November 22nd at LJ’s Kellogg Park. A new state-of-the-art station for lifeguards will be built that encompasses 1485 square feet, a 270 degree view from a new “observation tower”, and includes rooms for first aid, men and women’s locker rooms, staff room and administration rooms as part of the mix. The existing structure will be demolished but lifeguards will be able to use the current facility until the new building is completed in December 2011.
Supposedly, one of the reasons the La Jolla station is being replaced with a single-story building has been complaints from local residents that it blocked their views of the ocean.
Ocean Beach also has an old lifeguard station at the foot of Santa Monica which …also needs replacement. It’s public restrooms are notoriously horrible plus there are no rooms for bathers to sit and dress. Yet, all Ocean Beach is getting is a new restroom at the foot of Brighton Avenue on the beach – which will not be ready until next Spring. The only reason this is happening is because of roof damage to the previous restroom. …
Are there any plans out there for replacing OB’s station?
Supposedly, the La Jolla new station was 7 years in the planning. The $3.8 million project will include upgrades to Kellogg Park that call for the removal of 18,000 square feet of asphalt to be replaced with permeable pavers, that will improve drainage, plus new landscaping and curb ramps.
Some of the reasons that La Jolla gets a new one and OB doesn’t are the obvious ones: La Jolla is a larger, wealthier community, and as such its needs ring louder down at City Hall than OB’s wind chimes do.
October 2009, we reported:
Every now and then, an Ocean Beach organization takes one of the community’s problems head-on. This is happening with the old OB lifeguard station and its public restroom facilities. Recently, the OB Rag complained about the state of the restrooms.
Stepping up to the problems, the OB Town Council has “adopted” the public building … and plans to shepherd through some improvements with the facility.
I spoke with Jim Musgrove, the OB Town Council president the other day. He informed me that his Board was taking the lifeguard building under its wing. He acknowledged that the City of San Diego has no money to completely replace the aging building, even though OB was promised a new one a few years back.
The Council is working with the City, however, to ensure that it is safe. They have hooked up with the lifeguards, the Park and Rec Department, Councilmember Kevin Faulconer’s office and the OB Mainstreet Association, and together they have been having discussions on the improvements for the last year.
A local architect, Steven Lombardi, has offered his services and is drawing up changes to improve the building and deal with certain safety issues. …
Obviously, OBceans have been trying to get a new lifeguard station at least since 2009. That’s 16 years. Every time we try, we’re thwarted.
Perhaps the Mission Beach tower is in worse shape that the OB one. But it would be nice if OB was mentioned. Or even considered.
What in the world are you thinking?! The city wants only revenue generating projects. It’s not like there’s developer fees for infrastructure falling off trees. You need to set up a pre pay kiosk and lanyard display for that project attention. Fall off a cliff? $500 deductible. Need mouth to mouth? Get some hot lifeguards and line’em up at $50 a pop! Gotta think outside the box for that city attention.
Respectfully – you’re getting a new library and a brand-new pier for a neighborhood of 30,000 people in a city of 1.3 million during a structural budget deficit after also rejecting any taxes to increase available revenues. This is why people raise their eyebrows at me when I say I read the OB Rag.
Thanks Kate. But respectfully, it’s an expansion of the current library, which has been promised for a quarter of a century; any new pier is probably a generation away. Nothing new under the sun. There’s a long history of the city looking the other way when any new infrastructure for OB comes up.
First, it will not be a “new” library. It is a remodel and an addition.
Second, the pier is NOT just for Ocean Beach, it is for the whole county. It is not Ocean Beach infrastructure.
Third, a new pier may never materialize because the city designed a ridiculous gold gilded design that no state or federal agency will want to fund. And if it is ever built, it will be many years away.
Tell those eyebrow raisers to read some of what the OB Rag does instead of listening to someone else’s opinion.
I live in Talmadge, but OB is my most convenient and frequent summer ocean swim spot. I have been complaining for years about the condition of that restroom. It is atrocious, unsanitary, disgusting, and downright scary. It is beyond unacceptable that the city will not fix and/or immediately repair and and replace those restrooms ASAP. It’s not just for locals: a huge number of tourists go to OB and it is beyond unacceptable that they have to look at that restroom which I’m sure they never use once they see it. It is a real black mark on our city. I am here to help in anyway to light a fire under city officials and all San Diego’sto get this problem fixed and find a way to pay for it. Thank you, Frank for putting this Issue before the public eye.
I am a 57 year resident of OB. Even though I am 79 I enjoy body surfing at Tower two. What I don’t enjoy is the rickety mini shower and changing and they disgusting reaper. I don’t like going home in a wet bathing suit, so I hold my nose and brave the women’s restroom. The doors are about to fall off and there are no working watches. I just sent an email to the point Loma OB monthly about the money to be spent on Rob Field and Sunset Boulevard. How many years will it take to get sanitation for OB?
Update: A San Diego City Council committee on March 20 voted 4-0 to endorse spending $1 million for emergency repairs to Mission Beach Lifeguard Station.
The lifeguard station on Ocean Front Walk adjacent to Belmont Park is contained within the Mission Bay Park Improvement Fund. That fund requires the use of a portion of lease revenues from Mission Bay Park to go toward capital improvements in Mission Bay Park.
A staff report on the emergency Mission Beach funding proposal pointed out that a structural evaluation by an architectural firm in May 2024 concluded that the lifeguard tower needs “immediate hazard mitigation” to alleviate the threat it currently presents to the “health, safety, and welfare of the general public.”
The tower and its support facility have aged, and have been determined to be deteriorating and are now antiquated. The facility no longer meets the needs of the City’s lifeguards and the public.
The council’s Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was told this lifeguard tower, built in 1982, is in “extremely poor condition and is beyond its useful service life,” and that it “has not kept pace with the growing City Lifeguard Department’s demands resulting from an increase in visitors in this populous area.”
The Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee was also told the tower is San Diego’s busiest lifeguard station serving Mission Beach and Mission Bay.
https://sdnews.com/mission-beach-lifeguard-station-a-safety-risk-emergency-repairs-needed/