Surfers and beachgoers were dismayed recently when the Ventura County Fairgrounds increased the daily rate for beach parking at Surfers' Point from $2 to $5 and discontinued sales of annual passes. Recently, parking has been up to $10 and $20 per day during special events while surfers and beachgoers are using the main parking lot during construction of the new beach parking lot.
Access to Ventura’s beaches should be affordable for everyone. Surfers’ Point has benefited from decades of public investment to restore and protect this stretch of coast. The annual parking pass for Surfers’ Point that has been available for decades has been paused and is under reconsideration by the Ventura County Fairgrounds. An elimination of this annual pass would create a financial barrier for residents who regularly rely on this lot to access the beach, limiting equitable coastal access for our community and beachgoers.
We’re calling on the Ventura County Fairgrounds to ensure the continuation of an annual parking pass at a fair rate—comparable to the California State Parks pass—and maintain reasonable daily rates ($2–3/day) for regular beach users. Join Surfrider Ventura County in urging Fairgrounds leadership to ensure equitable, affordable access to Surfers Point. Your voice can help protect one of our community’s most beloved public spaces.
We encourage you to attend the Ventura County Fairgrounds Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday, October 21st at 2:00pm to share public comments in support of reinstating the Annual Beach Parking Pass. The meeting will be held in the Administration Conference Room at the Fairgrounds. Click here for the full agenda.
If you can't make it on the 21st, email the Fairgrounds CEO, Heidi Ortiz, with your concerns. Feel free to use our suggested message, or draft your own.
To: Heidi Ortiz - Ventura County Fairgrounds & Event Center, CEO HOrtiz@venturacountyfair.org
Subject: Reinstate the Annual Parking Pass at Surfers’ Point
Dear Ms. Ortiz,
As a Ventura County resident and coastal user, I am writing to urge the Fairgrounds to ensure the continuation of the annual parking pass at Surfers’ Point and ensure reasonable daily parking rates for beachgoers.
The temporary discontinuation of the annual pass and increase in daily rates—from $2 to $5 and up to $20 on special event days—creates financial barriers for residents who rely on this lot for regular coastal access and recreation. This change disproportionately affects low-income community members and contradicts decades of public investment aimed at restoring Surfers’ Point as an open, accessible shoreline.
I respectfully ask that the Fairgrounds Board reinstate an annual parking pass priced comparably to the California State Parks pass and cap daily parking fees at $2–3 per day, including during special events.
Affordable beach access is a cornerstone of our community’s identity. Please act to ensure that Surfers’ Point remains a place for everyone. Please pass my message on to the Board of Directors.
Sincerely,