Full Closure of Isla Vista Beaches This Weekend

ISLA VISTA, Calif. (KEYT) - With the potential of an unpermitted event called Deltopia, Isla Vista beaches will be closed from 8:00 a.m. Friday, April 3rd through Monday, April 6th at 8:00 a.m.

The beaches have been a source of health, safety and environmental concerns in the past when large events take place.  

A social-media driven event known as "Floatopia" took place in 2009 at a time when the resources were not in place and the crowd size was overwhelming.

The county says, "the beaches at Isla Vista were left strewn with trash and debris, including human waste."

The Deltopia event got its name when those gathering for a similar Spring Break weekend brought it up to Del Playa Drive, overlooking the ocean in subsequent years. It was not sanctioned and resulted in numerous medical calls for service, broke balconies and two deaths were listed as being connected to the activity.

This year the only permitted event is the Soltopia festival on April 4th, hosted by the Isla Vista Community Services District (IVCSD) in collaboration with UC Santa Barbara's Associated Students Board. This event is at the top of the "loop" and free using park land and nearby areas. There are no beach activities.

There will be free admission, musical events, other art, food vendors and security. It is a public event and organizers have encouraged community members and families to attend. It was presented earlier this year to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors.

This event also encourages people to eat and shop in the Isla Vista community where the year-round economy struggles during school breaks. The community has about 20,000 students who attend UC Santa Barbara or Santa Barbara City College.

 The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department through the Isla Vista Foot Patrol  will enforce the beach closure and an ordinance banning amplified music.

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