About 150 people attended a brief ceremony Saturday morning hosted by Santa Cruz City officials to kick open the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf after it was closed Dec. 23 due to heavy surf damage.
“I love it because I love being out here,” said Kevin Ratliff, who rode his colorfully decorated bicycle to the event. “I’ve been coming out here since 1963. I’ve done a lot of fishing, a lot of crabbing and a lot of hanging out here. I’m just glad to see it open again.”
Mayor Fred Keeley welcomed the crowd and paid thanks to a host of players from around the city, public works crews and to businesses folks for their patience in getting the wharf back open after 12 days.
“You know, a couple of weeks ago, we had a little problem out here,” Keeley told the crowd. “First and foremost today, what we want to do is let you know, the community know, the people all over northern California know that it is safe to come to our wharf; it is safe for our merchants to open back up and for people to come here to one of the most cherished, iconic wooden wharfs in the United States of America.”
Swarms of people then walked out to the fenced-off end of the wharf to take photos and videos of where the long standing Dolphin Restaurant, public restrooms, beaches and fishing spots once stood.
Catherine Wade of Santa Cruz brought her two young children to the wharf with their small bicycles.
“It feels good to see it back open,” she said. “We looked at the sea lions and the kids were glad to find this area closed to traffic to ride their bikes. I’ll definitely miss those cut-outs in the wharf where you could watch the sea lions below. The whole thing has been very shocking.”
