This is one of those highly visible beaches and bends
in the road on Pacific Coast Highway between Corona del Mar and Laguna
Beach. Mobile homes sit neatly along the highest point of the beach in
what used to be coined "El Morro Mobile Home Park" but was renamed by its
managers as El Morro Village in 1999. The land is leased and was
supposed to be opened to the public in a "final" 20 year lease agreement
created in 1979 to have the mobile homes vacated in 1999. A 5-year
extension of the lease in 1999 upset quite a few folks who were expecting
to enjoy the park and beach as a public beach venue.
(note from web reader, Robert:
Your website has a "review" of El Morro Village which I find very ironic
to say the least. I quote from your website "A 5-year extension of the
lease in 1999 upset quite a few folks who were expecting to enjoy the
park and beach as a public beach venue. A 5-year extension of the lease
in 1999 upset quite a few folks who were expecting to enjoy the park and
beach as a public beach venue." THIS WAS ALWAYS A PUBLIC BEACH WITH
PUBLIC ACCESS INCLUDING PARKING. Now the beach has yet to be made safe
for public use and is nothing short of an eye sore. I would seriously
consider revising your website to reflect the correct information.")
One group in particular, Laguna Greenbelt, Inc., supports
full public access to El Morro Village which runs along the southern edge
of Crystal Cove State Park. They are pushing for provision of overnight
accommodations, including campgrounds, over and above existing hike-in
primitive campsites. Their web site presents information about their efforts
to reclaim this piece of property for public access. Sources: www.lagunagreenbelt.org
Meanwhile, the California State Parks published this article,
probably in response to the many queries about the status of this prime
piece of beach along the beautiful Orange County, California coast.
El Morro Trailer Park at Crystal Cove State Park
- Crystal Cove State Park - Mobile Home Park Conversion
The Governor’s 2000-01 budget appropriated funds to the
California Department of Parks and Recreation to pay sewer connection and
annexation costs, to conduct testing and studies, and to prepare preliminary
plans for conversion of the State owned mobile home park to public use.
The plans are to be in accordance with the General Plan that was approved
by the State Park and Recreation Commission in 1982. Proposed facilities
include a campground, picnic facilities, beach parking, and stream restoration.
The reason General Plan provisions for the mobile home
park have not been implemented previously is because of a long-term lease
that expired in 1999. Plans were not ready and funding was not available
in 1999 to convert the park to public use. So, the State entered into another
five-year lease. This lease expires December 31st 2004. Completed plans,
funding and construction are expected to begin at this time. Source:
http://www.parks.ca.gov
