SEASIDE LAGOON
REHABILITATION PROJECT
DESIGN
Community Services Department
April 21, 2026
BACKGROUND
• Seaside Lagoon
• Relies on aging infrastructure
• Draws, treats, and discharges ocean water
• Difficult and costly to maintain
• 2025 Pump Repair
• Annual fines from CA State and Regional Water Quality Control Boards
• City secured $10M in grants, allocated $1M
2 BACKGROUND
• Through RFP process, NUVIS selected in 2023
• Community outreach and engagement, subcommittee
and Harbor Commission helped inform design
• October 15, 2024 Council meeting
• Options presented
• Option 2 Selected
• Directed to move forward with Phase 1 plans and specs, and pursue entitlement for all phases
3 4
Option 2
• Lagoon isolated from harbor
with recirculation filtering
• Concrete liner with sand
bottom
• Lagoon moved north • Reuse of existing bulkhead • Round-about added to park space
• Removable fences for access
after lagoon closes • Fuchsia fence during summer
season with Lagoon full
• Red fence after summer season
with most of Lagoon drained
• Shallow end drains for after
season access
PHASES
5 6
BACKGROUND
Since October 2024
• LA Department of Health
Lap pool and lagoon must be physically separated by setback and fencing
• Cost estimation refinement
Phase 1 exceeded $16M
• Site Constraints
High groundwater table = excavation limitation = dewatering • $7.9M in the Current Project Budget for Construction
7 BACKGROUND
Scope Refinements
• Lagoon water feature and supporting infrastructure
• Fountain feature
• Smaller splash and spray elements
• Water slide
• Buoys for informal lap swimming
• Concrete bottom will help with clarity, but shallow area along edges will include sand
• Options for Different Water Depths at between 3.5 feet and 5 feet
8 Pump House and
Luau Shelter Concrete
bottom
Water
Slide Fountain
Splash & Spray
Features Zero depth
sand entry
Temporary
Fencing
Pump
House and
Luau
Shelter
Concrete
bottom
Water
Slide Fountain
Splash &
Spray
Features
Zero depth
sand entry
Temporary
Fencing
GROUNDWATER LEVEL
10 11
GROUNDWATER LEVEL
12 GROUNDWATER LEVEL
Option to build up
Costs include
ramping and
decking atop
current bulkhead
Can increase depth
by 0.5 ft to 1.5 ft
13 ZERO DEPTH SAND ENTRY
Water Feature DESIGN OPTIONS
• OPTION 1:
Including all elements noted in slides 8/9, and either sand entry design
3.5 ft depth
$9.47M current estimate
• OPTION 2:
Including all elements noted in slides 8/9, and either sand entry design Build up to 4 or 5 ft of depth
4 ft: $9.47M + $475k decking and ramping = $9.95M current estimate 5 ft: $9.47M + $575k decking and ramping = $10.05M current estimate • OPTION 3
Including all elements noted in slides 8/9, and either sand entry design Dig down to 5 ft depth
$9.47M + $1.27 construction + $1-2M dewatering = $11.74-$12.74M est. 14 Other Optional Design Features
15 Optional Elements Estimated Cost
New, high-grade sand
$110/cubic yard
~4930 CY required
$542,300
Installation of a prefabricated restroom facility
along the promenade to support the Lagoon and
Hand Launch facility
$607,925 for a four unisex stall unit, or
$300k-$425k for a one to two unisex stall unit
Replacement of the facility’s perimeter chainlink
fencing
$139,500 for new chainlink, or
$446,400 for upgraded 8’ tube steel fencing, or
$51,750 for chainlink on the NE side and
$453,375 for tempered glass fencing on SW
$505,125 total
Sod w/ irrigation for 20,000 sf. of Turf instead of
Sand south of the Water Amenity
$80,000 - Sodded Turf $4/SF
$100,000 - Turf Irrigation $5/SF
$180,000 Total
TIME CONSTRAINTS
16 • Timely City Council direction required to proceed
• Staff will move forward with entitlement documents, environmental review, and the preparation of plans and specifications for construction of Phase 1 • Coordination with the CA Coastal Commission and other regulatory agencies, followed by bidding and construction
Construction Schedule
Start target: April 2027
Duration: ~10 months
Completion: Early 2028
Goal is to complete Phase 1 improvements before the BeachLife Festival in May 2028 and to position the facility for LA28 programming
RECOMMENDATION
Provide direction on what elements to incorporate in the final Seaside Lagoon Design, including:
1. Water Depth
2. Sand Entry
3. Other optional Features
Staff recommends constructing a new SSL with 5 feet of water depth (Option 2)
Direct staff to proceed with preparation of the Coastal Development Permit Application and to identify funding for the total estimated cost of construction, including the final design elements 17