Oceano Dunes SVRA (State Vehicular Recreation Area), aka ODSVRA, formerly Pismo Dunes, is a unique 5 mile stretch of beach and dunes on California’s Central Coast that offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities. It’s the only State Park in California that permits you to drive, ride, or recreate on our sands in your VEHICLE which creates a one-of-a-kind sense of freedom to explore all that
this spectacular park has to offer, something that EVERYONE can enjoy! In the early 1900’s enthusiasts began driving their Model T’s on the beach and started riding their motorcycles out in the dunes, it’s a 100-year-old tradition!! Years later, in the 1970’s the ODSVRA was designated as an off-road riding area, and in 1983, it became an official State Vehicular Recreation Area.The ODSVRA makes up 3600 acres of the larger, 18,000-acre Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Complex, of which 92% is reserved for protected and endangered species. Of the 3600 acres, only 1500 are legislated for vehicular use, which is only 1/2 of 1% of the entire CA coastline. Locals and out of town visitors alike enjoy the diverse recreational opportunities that wouldn’t be available without vehicular use. These visitors enjoy many activities including; fishing, surfing, jet skiing, off-roading, nature hiking, whale and sea life observation, picnicking, equestrian hobbies, jogging, camping, kiteboarding, boogie boarding, sunset watching, star gazing, and so much more! The ODSVRA is THE most accessible beach in California. It allows beach access for so many that otherwise wouldn't be able to get out and enjoy our sands, such as; people with disabilities, elderly, families, and wounded vets, among others. A recent study shows that tourists to the ODSVRA bring $243 million to our local economy and create 3,300 jobs locally. Without this income our local businesses and their employees would be devastated! Unfortunately, we have two current dangers facing our park. #1 The current Covid-19 closure successfully shut down the beach to vehicles which started in late March of this year, only to finally open after 7 long months, but only partially. State Parks released its phased reopening plan; Phase 1 opened up to street legal vehicles on 10/30/20, with a 1000 vehicle maximum per day. Phase 2 opened up to 1000 OHV's and overnight camping, but only for 100 sites (a fraction of what is normally available). After 11 long months we waited for the return of off road vehicles and camping, and now we wait for Phase 3 which will expand on Phase 2 and also allow the ATV Rental companies to bring their businesses back on the beach (they have been shut down since March of 2020) it could be in a week, a month, a year….we have no idea!
#2 The biggest threat; the California Coastal Commission, and other organizations want to phase out ALL TYPES of vehicle use and close our park PERMANENTLY over the next five years if not sooner. This means NO driving, riding or any other type of vehicular recreation on our beach or in our dunes at ALL! They use false science, incorrect data, and twist the truth around to give the ODSVRA and its users a bad rap. What people don’t realize and what these organization don’t see is how important this special place is to so many of us and if taken away, they take away a lot of our freedoms (vehicles are the only way that many can even come out to enjoy the park), they destroy the daily rituals and past times that so many rely on, and they put an end to all of the traditions & memories that have been made here over the past 100 years!! We need your help to work together to keep this spectacular, unique, “happy place” open, with vehicle access for ALL! Things you can do to help:
1. Make phone calls & send emails:
Call:
State Parks Directors Office
916-653-8380 and 916-653-8288
Kevin Pearce, Parks & Rec OHV
805-773-7177
Gavin Newsom's Office
916-445-2841
Email:
Law Enforcement: [email protected]
Interpretation & Education: [email protected]
Operations: [email protected]
Environmental Operations: [email protected]
State Parks: [email protected] and [email protected]
See our Event called "Contact Lists" for more email addresses.
2. Speak up at these important meetings! - check out our "website" for info!
· California Coastal Commission (CCC), meetings monthly
· OHV Commission, meetings bi-monthly
· Air Pollution Control District (APCD), meetings seasonally/quarterly
You have several opportunities to have your voices heard at these meetings, you can speak live, or if you aren’t comfortable with public speaking you can:
· Make & submit videos
· Make & submit slideshows/presentations
· Pre-record & submit your audio only
3. Donate to “Friends of Oceano Dunes”, a non-profit organization solely committed to fighting the big fight and taking legal action against these organizations that oppose our freedom of all types of vehicular recreation - check out our "website" for info!
4. Donate to C.O.R.V.A (California Off Road Vehicle Association), an organization that also fights the big fights legally for YOUR right to enjoy motorized off road recreation on YOUR California public lands - check out our "website" for info!
5. Support “Friends of Oceano Dunes” further by subscribing to AmazonSmile and selecting them as your charity of choice.
6. Take the State Parks Survey and tell them how important vehicle access is to you and that you want to keep the park open, with vehicle access for ALL!!! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/oceanodunespwp
