Sand Dune Park facts for kids
Sand Dune Park is a special place in Manhattan Beach, California. It has public sand dunes on a steep hill that people use for exercise. Many athletes, both amateur and professional, come here to train.
This park has even been shown in fitness magazines as a great spot for a workout! Local people built the park in 1964 on what used to be a dump. It was once just a small area of grass and sand.
According to local historian Jan Dennis, it's one of the last places that shows what the area looked like long ago. Back then, much of the South Bay had sand dunes. The park has become very popular, which has led to some new rules.
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Rules for Using the Dune
Why are there Rules?
In 2009, some neighbors living near the park wanted the sand dune part closed. They were worried about noise, traffic, and too many people. The city council discussed these problems.
Because of these concerns, the sand dune was closed and fenced off for a while. After some talks, it reopened in August 2010. But new rules were put in place to help manage how many people could use it.
Today, you need a reservation to use the sand dune. You have to book your spot ahead of time at City Hall. This building is about a mile away and is open during business hours.
When it's your turn, someone supervises the entrance to the fenced area. The city has found that these rules help manage the park. They also collect money from fines if people don't follow the rules.
Sometimes, people who don't live nearby might not know about all the strict rules. They could get a fine of hundreds of dollars for just one mistake.
The Stairs Next Door
Next to the sand dune, there are 208 steps that you can use. They might look like a good option if you don't have a reservation for the dune. However, there are signs that say "No Jogging" on the stairs.
The fines for jogging on the steps are even higher. Because of this, the city often sends police to watch for people who break this rule. When asked, officials explain that walking is allowed, but jogging is not. The rules are very strict, like those for International Racewalking. This means one foot must be on the ground at all times.
“I live nine houses away from the park and I had no idea a ticket for this is actually $600 . . . This amount of money is ridiculous and excessive.”
A group of local residents formed to ask for more ways to use the park. A study showed that the fences and rules were keeping people away. The number of visitors went down by 45%. In response, the city kept the rules but added a few more reservation times in late 2011.
Famous Visitors to the Dune
Many famous athletes have trained at Sand Dune Park. These include:
- Troy Polamalu from the Pittsburgh Steelers (football)
- Thomas Mayo from the NY Jets (football)
- Kirk Alexander, a former defensive back for UCLA (football)
- Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum, along with other teammates from the Los Angeles Lakers (basketball)
- Paul Pierce from the Los Angeles Clippers (basketball)
- Tony Gonzalez from the Atlanta Falcons (football)
Many other NHL players, USC and UCLA football players, volleyball players, boxers, fighters, sprinters, and WNBA players have also used the dune. They share the sand with many other people who come for a workout on weekends.
Special Plants at the Park
Sand Dune Park is also home to a rare plant called Chaenactis glabriuscula var. orcuttiana. Its common name is Orcutt's yellow pincushion. This plant is native to California and only grows in the coastal dunes of southern California.
In spring 2010, new groups of this plant were found at Sand Dune Park and the Ballona Wetlands. The California Native Plant Society lists this plant as endemic to California's coastal dune ecosystems. This means it only grows in these specific areas. Sadly, its numbers are significantly decreasing.
