Malibu Municipal Code § 2.3 Description of Existing Recreation Facilities

Malibu is located within the boundaries of the SMMNRA which extends from Griffith Park in the City of Los Angeles to Pt. Mugu in Ventura County and is comprised of City, State, County, and Federally owned park lands and relies on cooperation between managing agencies and private land owners. Recreation areas are either publicly owned and operated by governmental agencies or are privately owned and operated, yet available to the public. Most recreation areas within the City of Malibu and its surrounding area are public beaches or mountain parks. The emphasis at these sites is on water oriented activities at beaches or on interpretation of the natural environment in the mountains. Figure OS-1 displays the existing public recreation facilities within and adjacent to the City of Malibu.

Prior to the City's incorporation, park maintenance and recreational services were provided by the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation and Harbors and Beaches Departments, the State Department of Parks and Recreation, the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, and the National Park Service. Since incorporation, the City Parks and Recreation Department manages the Equestrian Center, Charmlee Natural Area and Malibu Bluffs Park by agreement with Los Angeles County; and administers programs in these parks as well as other locations. Child development programs, summer camps, and special events are provided by private, organized groups. The Malibu Community Center, although a popular site for City-run meetings, is owned jointly by the Point Dume Community Services District composed of City residents along with the Santa Monica/Malibu Unified School District.

The California Department of Parks and Recreation is responsible for the Malibu Lagoon State Beach including Malibu Pier (in conjunction with private contract), and Surfrider Beach (in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors), Point Dume State Beach, Malibu Creek State Park, and Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach.

Corral Canyon Park is approximately 16.1 acres and is located on the Pacific Coast Highway between Puerco Canyon and Corral Canyon. The park, managed by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, provides hiking, equestrian trails, and parking.

Solstice Canyon Park is located at Pacific Coast Highway and Corral Canyon Road. The site is approximately 556 acres and provides hiking and equestrian trails, mountain biking, picnicking, grills, camping, swimming, disabled access, parking, drinking water, restrooms, and access to the Backbone Trail. The Park is managed by the National Park Service.

The National Park Service is responsible for the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The entire City of Malibu is within the Santa Monica Mountain National Recreation Area, a federal designation. The legislation of Public Law 95-625 mandates the National Park Service to manage the recreation area in a manner which will preserve and enhance scenic, natural and cultural resources, and its public health value as an air-shed, and provide recreational and educational opportunities. The Natural Park Service is committed to cooperative working together with agencies and jurisdictions to create a system of land use, recreational and educational opportunities, and resources conservation and preservation.

The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) was established by Congress in 1978. The National Park Service has developed multiple-use policies for managing the area and aspires to acquire those lands which offer significant natural, cultural, and recreational resources and which are not already under governmental jurisdiction or private preservation/recreation-oriented use. People will continue to live and work within the boundary of the recreation area. These people are not considered "in-holders," to be removed one day, in the traditional park sense, but "neighbors." Regulation of their land use is not the responsibility of the federal government but of local jurisdictions.

The City of Malibu lies within the boundaries of the SMMNRA. The National Park Service is committed to cooperation with the City of Malibu to preserve Malibu's natural and cultural resources, watershed, and open space.

Zuma and Trancas Canyons are an important part of the SMMNRA and together make up one of the largest contiguous landholdings in the mountains. The lower canyons are within the City of Malibu. The National Park Service owns over 5,700 acres of this unique example of a Mediterranean ecosystem, which provide core wildlife habitat. Streams help support wildlife, including reptiles, birds, deer, coyote, bobcat, and mountain lion. Several plant communities are represented: chaparral, coastal sage scrub, riparian/oak woodland, and grassland. Several sensitive plant species are found in the canyons, such as Santa Susana tarweed, Hoover's baccharis, Santa Monica live-forever, and the State and federally listed Pentochaeta lyonii. The steep rugged canyons of natural beauty and tranquility provide visitors with a variety of recreational opportunities, including hiking, equestrian, and mountain bike trails, or resplendent contemplation.

The Santa Monica/Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) operates three facilities within the City of Malibu. Those schools within the City of Malibu include Cabrillo Elementary School, Webster Elementary School, and Malibu High School. These schools provide recreational facilities and classrooms that may be used by local residents. In addition to school recreational facilities, the SMMUSD leases its Point Dume Elementary School to the Point Dume Community Service District for a Community Center. The school district was also leasing property adjacent to the existing Malibu High School to Los Angeles County for operation of the equestrian center. The County is currently transferring the lease on this property to the City.

The Malibu Community Center, located at 6955 Fernhill Road, is a 27,000 square foot former school on 6.5 acres, with meeting room capacity from 12 to 200. There are 850 square foot rooms for lease, as well as smaller and larger rooms available on an hourly basis. Recreational facilities on-site include a grassy park with children play equipment, picnic tables, basketball courts, volleyball court, tennis backboard, parking, and restrooms.

Recreation programs for the residents are currently provided by the Point Dume Community Services District, and private groups and include youth and adult sports programs, senior citizen activities, and special interest programs. Youth sports programs include such activities as basketball, soccer, football, and baseball. Various adult sports programs include softball and tennis. Senior citizen activities include special monthly programs, travel tips, weekly book study group, and exercise program. Special interest programs include numerous classes such as tap and jazz dancing, aerobics, martial arts, yoga, gymnastics, day camps, and after school childcare. Indoor recreation facilities used for the various programs include the Malibu Community Center (on Fernhill Drive in Point Dume), the Malibu Bluffs Park located on Pacific Coast Highway, the Michael Landon Community Center located at Malibu Bluffs Park, and the Malibu Lagoon State Beach area.

Private recreation consists of privately owned facilities which generally require some form of membership or residence. Boating, tennis, and riding clubs exist throughout the. City. Beach clubs encompass beaches for private use by members. In addition, there are a number of privately owned camps which include hiking, camping, picnicking, and other outdoor recreational opportunities. Among these are Calamigos Star C Ranch Camp, Jewish Centers Association, Bloomfield Foundation for the Junior Blind, and the Salvation Army. Other private recreation facilities include the Malibu Tennis Club and the Malibu Riding and Tennis Club.

Organized groups in Malibu that currently provide recreational opportunities include the Malibu Recreational Council, soccer associations, baseball leagues, softball leagues, football leagues, equestrian clubs, senior citizen groups, and religious groups.

Commercial recreation developments or facilities also serve public recreational needs. Sailing, surfing, windsurfing, and scuba instruction and equipment rentals are available at locations in the Malibu Pier area. Other commercial recreation activities include chartered boats, fishing, and horseback riding.

Visitor-serving facilities are defined to include private and public developments that provide accommodations, food and commercial-recreation developments, such as shopping, eating and amusement areas for tourists. One recreational vehicle (RV) park—the Malibu RV Park—is located in Malibu near Malibu Beach.

Table 2-1 SUMMARY OF EXISTING PARKLAND RECREATION FACILITIES

(Source: Harland Bartholomew and Associates, Inc., 1992)

Table 2-2 SUMMARY OF EXISTING SCHOOL RECREATIONAL FACILITIES

(Source: Harland Bartholomew and Associates, Inc., 1992)

The Santa Monica Mountains Trail Council (SMMTC) works with many agencies, organizations, companies, and individuals to organize trail projects, coordinate volunteer trail maintenance, support acquisitions of public land for trails, and promote public awareness and use of trails. Their greatest accomplishment has been the adoption of their Comprehensive Trail Plan by Los Angeles County as part of their General Plan, which includes 23 proposed trail routes. The County now works with landowners to preserve easements along the adopted trails. The SMMTC plans to work with Ventura County in a similar manner in the future.

Figure OS-2 depicts the existing and proposed trails in and adjacent to the City of Malibu, which are listed in the Comprehensive Trail Plan. Conceptually, there are three major components to the trails system, including the Backbone Trail, which traverses the coastal zone from the City of Los Angeles to Ventura County, a series of lateral trails which provide north-south access linking the Backbone Trail and coastal areas, and a series of connector trails. Once ultimately completed, the trail system is intended to: (a) provide an integrated network of trail corridors linking recreational facilities and public land to population centers; (b) provide a functional linkage between coastal and mountain areas; (c) facilitate access to significant physiographic and ecologic features; (d) establish connections with the regional trail network; and (e) maximize safe opportunities for hiking and equestrian use.

The Backbone Trail is being completed in segments by the SMMTC. When it is complete, it will extend approximately 55 miles, linking the major parklands throughout the mountains and the City. While Figure OS-2 only depicts proposed trails, there are smaller additional trails located within each park in the vicinity of the City of Malibu which provide opportunities for exploration. Hiking guides and maps are available at major park information centers.

Ten out of the 23 proposed trails are located within the City limits. They are as follows:

Peak uses of the majority of recreation facilities, in and adjacent to Malibu, occur between the months of April and September. During peak use periods, maximum capacity is generally reached at the beaches. Maximum capacity is defined as having been reached when the parking lot(s) serving the beach(es) are full.

In addition to the trails proposed in the Comprehensive Trail Plan, many trails and trail fragments have been dedicated and proposed throughout the City. Some of these trails are in use. Other trails which are in use have never been recorded. The resultant confusion has created some controversy concerning which trails should be included in a comprehensive trails and access plan for the City.

The Open Space Subcommittee of the General Plan Task Force and the local trail committee have researched dedications for trails and trails easements. Many of these trail dedications appear to be part of roadway rights-of-way. Others provide important links among existing trails and access to the local beaches.

Local homeowners associations provided documentation that several of the dedicated trails were held in common by the associations and not open to the general public. All roadways in Malibu may be considered a source of trails right-of-way, but must be inspected to ensure there is an unobstructed right-of-way width adequate to safely accommodate pedestrians and, as appropriate, equestrians. The trails dedication information is provided by the Open Space Subcommittee of the General Plan Task Force as part of the Goals, Objectives and Policies of the General Plan. When title and physical adequacy have been verified, the information will be a useful tool in development of a comprehensive trails plan for the City on an area-by-area basis, after which unnecessary easements can be retired.