Economic Boost for San Luis Obispo Coast

State Parks And City of Morro Bay
Celebrate Grand Re-opening of Campground

Morro Bay, CA – Morro Bay State Park Campground, one of the key economic engines that supports business along the Morro Bay coastline, has re-opened to public use after being closed for extensive repairs and rehabilitation.

To celebrate the grand re-opening, Morro Bay Mayor Janice Peters will join State Parks’ Superintendent Nick Franco in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the entrance to the park on Sunday, June 5, 2005, at 2:00 p.m. The intent is to spread the word that the campground is back on the State Parks’ reservation system and once again welcoming campers.

“We are delighted that this very popular park is back,” said Nick Franco, the State Parks’ San Luis Obispo District Superintendent. “We understand how important it is for the business health of this community and we are confident that with the significant improvements, this campground will be even more attractive to those looking for a quality vacation spot.”

The $3.2 million project is the first complete rehabilitation of the Morro Bay State Park Campground since opening in 1932. It comes at a time when long-overdue repairs and rehabilitation work for the aged visitor-serving facilities have enhanced public access and safety.

The intention of the project has been to preserve and protect the historic and environmental character built into this facility by the Civilian Conservation Corps decades ago. In the renovation, much needed upgrades to visitor serving facilities were made in conjunction with keeping the existing character of the park. “This rehabilitation,” added Franco, preserves the best of the historic fabric, the elements of character that have attracted people to this park for many years.”

“Our community has really missed the visitors to this park,” said Morro Bay Mayor Janice Peters. “ We appreciate the fact that much of the historic furniture and character of this park has been kept and we are now looking forward to a return of park visitors to our community.”

The campground rehabilitation work completed includes the following:

• Construction of new restrooms to make facilities more accessible to those with disabilities. One historic restroom was preserved and one historic restroom was adapted for accessibility.

• Relocation of the park entrance station to eliminate the existing traffic safety hazards.

• Reconfiguration of the campsite locations and realignment of the access road through the campground to provide safer traffic access and circulation to the campsites.

• The undergrounding of utilities.

• Removal of a minimum number of non-native trees, many of which were in an unsafe condition.

• Planting close to 300 native trees and over 600 native shrubs.

For more information please call Nick Franco, District Superintendent at (805) 927-2065.