Topline:
The Newport Beach City Council voted to approve plans for a surf park to replace part of an aging golf course over the objections of neighbors and golfers, and safety concerns regarding the adjacent John Wayne Airport.
Surfers, on the other hand, are stoked.
What will it look like? The Snug Harbor Surf Park will have two pools capable of accommodating up to 72 surfers, with 25 different types of waves to choose from. It plans to be open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. — in other words, an alternative when the waves are blown out from the typical afternoon coastal wind or it’s too dark outside.
Read on ... for more about the new project, including visuals.
A new surf park is heading for Newport Beach
The Newport Beach City Council voted Tuesday to approve plans for a surf park to replace part of an aging golf course. The unanimous vote came over the objections of golfers, and safety concerns regarding the adjacent John Wayne Airport.
Surfers, on the other hand, are stoked.
The Snug Harbor Surf Park will have two pools capable of accommodating up to 72 surfers, with 25 different types of waves to choose from. It plans to be open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. — in other words, an alternative when the waves are blown out from the typical afternoon coastal wind or it’s too dark outside. No word yet on what it'll cost but expect a lot more than parking at the beach.
It's like Disneyland — for surfers
Perfect waves, one after the other. A proposed new surf park will be heaven for those with a board. Here are some mock images of what it will look like:
A mock image of what a proposed new surf park would look like in Newport Beach.
A mock image of what the entrance to a proposed new surf park would look like in Newport Beach.
A mock image of what a proposed new surf park would look like in Newport Beach.
A mock image of what a proposed new surf park would look like in Newport Beach.
A mock image of what a proposed new surf park would look like in Newport Beach.
A mock image of what a proposed new surf park would look like in Newport Beach.
The backstory
John Wayne’s Airport Land Use Commission recommended against the project last month. Among other concerns, they said the surf park would allow a large concentration of people in areas susceptible to aircraft accidents. But the city can, and did, override the commission’s recommendation.
Surf parks are trending
The idea of surfing inland on an artificial wave might be older than you think: the first wave pool for surfing in North America debuted in 1969 in Tempe, Arizona. But surf parks didn’t really take off until professional surfer Kelly Slater got into the game, initially with his Central Valley Surf Ranch, in 2015, and most recently with Surf Abu Dhabi.
Right now, the closest surf park to L.A. is in Palm Springs, with several more in the works in nearby desert towns. Others are reportedly planned for El Segundo and Oceanside.
Real waves down the street? Who cares!
Yes, the beach is just down the street from this project. And surfing real waves has many, many benefits (camaraderie! variety! dolphins! beach hair!). But surf park advocates say having a consistent, machine-produced wave can significantly cut down the learning curve for newbies, and allows pro or would-be pro surfers to practice a move over and over again without having to contend with Mother Nature’s endless variables.
What’s next?
Construction is expected to take about a year and a half. During and afterwards, golfers will still have access to 15 holes in front and back of the new surf park. But the driving range and three holes are set for demolition.
Keeping tabs on Newport Beach City Council
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City council meetings are generally held twice a month on Tuesdays at 4 p.m. at 100 Civic Center Dr. in Newport Beach.
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Meetings are also televised live by Spectrum (Channel 3) and Cox Communications (Channel 852), or you can watch on the city's website.
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You can find meeting dates and agendas, and search for other documents here.
