By Gina Yarbrough
Oceanside, CA–The City of Oceanside on December 15 celebrated the grand opening of four new beach volleyball courts at Harbor Beach with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by city leaders and local student athletes.
Oceanside Mayor Esther Sanchez joined city officials and players from Oceanside High School, Coastal Academy, and Mission Vista High School to mark the occasion. Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Sanchez highlighted the importance of beach volleyball to the community.
“Beach volleyball is special in Oceanside,” Sanchez said. “I’m just thrilled that we are able to host beach volleyball tournaments and also provide for our community. This is a really wonderful space for everyone to come out. It doesn’t matter how well you play.”
City officials said the new courts address a growing demand for beach volleyball facilities at the harbor, particularly for local boys and girls high school teams, CIF men’s and women’s beach volleyball tournaments, and community-sponsored games and events. The courts are available free of charge for public use year-round.
The courts are maintained by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department and feature adjustable nets that can be raised or lowered to accommodate players of all skill levels, according to the City of Oceanside.
Visit Oceanside is the first organization to partner with the city to sponsor the volleyball courts. The city’s official tourism marketing organization will cover the cost of net maintenance, a contribution that officials said will not impact the city’s general fund.
Leslee Gaul, president and CEO of Visit Oceanside, said the partnership allows the organization to play a more direct role in supporting community amenities.
“It’s really neat to have an opportunity to have more of a direct impact through this inaugural sponsorship for the nets and help with the maintenance throughout the year,” Gaul said.
