The Santa Cruz Wharf fully reopened Wednesday, more than a year after a storm ripped away the end of the historic structure.
City officials gathered to celebrate the completion of an approximately $1 million repair project that rebuilt a 1,200-square-foot area at the tip of one of the world’s longest wooden wharves.
However, the refurbished wharf is slightly smaller than before the December 2024 storm: the 180 feet that fell into the water during the storm was not replaced. There is also only one sea lion viewing hole cut into the wharf, where four once were.
City officials said the decision to limit the number of viewing openings was partly structural. Each cutout weakens the deck, making it more vulnerable during storms.
“A key part of the end of the wharf is making sure that it’s resilient to climate change and sea level rise and storms into the future,” Tony Elliot, the parks and recreation director for the city of Santa Cruz, previously told the Chronicle. “So our focus at the end of the wharf in the near term is really structural resilience and strength.”
During the 2024 storm, three workers were thrown into the water, and lifeguards rescued two while a third swam to safety. The wharf had been undergoing repairs after being battered by storms during the previous winter.
The rebuilt section will include benches and parking to help nearby restaurants and businesses that support about 10% of the city’s economy. The wharf draws more than 1.5 million visitors each year.
City officials are pursuing a Wharf Master Plan that aims to revitalize the area over the coming decades, including an expansion of recreational space for events, walking and cycling.
“We encourage everyone just to keep their eye on the wharf and don’t write off the wharf,” Elliot said. “It’s a place that’s always changing. There’s always new and exciting things coming online.”