The restored Capitola Wharf held a soft opening last week, a year and a half after a storm surge destroyed a large middle section. A community work day party is planned for Saturday, Sept. 7, to install extra features purchased through a fundraising campaign.
The city awarded an $8 million contract, funded by a mix of federal, state and local tax dollars, to Southern California-based Cushman Contracting Corp. last year to repair storm damage and address pre-existing structural issues.
A community group, the Capitola Wharf Enhancement Project, set a fundraising goal of $250,000 to supplement that work with features including new benches and tables, improved viewing stations and public art. It ended up raising $425,000.
“We hope everybody comes out for the grand opening on Sept. 25. It’s going to be a great community event,” said Gerry Jensen, chair of the Capitola Wharf Enhancement Project. “On Sept. 7, we will have a work day party for the community. And with all the money that was raised by the community, the $425,000, we have the benches, tables, trash cans all here. We’re inviting the community to come together and help put on the final touches before the grand opening.”
Prior to the January 2023 storm, when 20-foot swells at high tide swept away a middle section of the wharf, the previous time it had seen significant work was in the 1980s.
Until last week, the wharf had been closed to the public since the storm. In the leadup to its official reopening, Jensen said, the wharf will be open to foot traffic at random times, depending on construction.
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