Urban Praise from Moody Radio. (Pine Bluff). He now Pastors Victory Cathedral Wo. 14.3 / 3:59 / FA Forgiven Deitrick Haddon Church on the Moon.
Huntington Beach, California Huntington Beach is a seaside city in Orange County in southern California. As of the 2006 census, the city population was 194,436. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west, by Seal Beach on the north, by Costa Mesa on the south, by Westminster on the northeast, and by Fountain Valley on the east.
It is known for its long 8.5 mile (14 km) beach, mild climate, and excellent surfing. The waves are a unique natural effect caused by edge-diffraction of ocean swells by the island of Catalina, and waves from distant hurricanes. Because of the curve of the coastline at Huntington Beach, the local beach actually faces southwest. In summer, the southwest-facing beach often has very strong surf generally referred to as a 'south swell'. South swells can be generated from either (winter) storms originating in the southern Pacific Ocean off New Zealand or from hurricanes off the Mexican coast or a combination of both.
The area of Huntington Beach was originally occupied by the Tongva people, also known as Gabrielinos, whose lands stretched from what is now Topanga Canyon through Aliso Creek in Laguna Beach. European settlement can be traced to Spanish soldier, Manuel Nieto, who in 1784 received a Spanish land grant of 300,000 acres, which he named Rancho Los Nietos, as a reward for his military service. The Stearns Rancho Company ran cattle and horses and raised barley crops on what is now the city of HB.
In the early 1800’s a portion of property was sold to Col. Robert Northam, who raised and sold barley to surrounding ranchers. By 1889, the city was called Shell Beach and consisted of a small group of settlers. In 1901, Shell Beach was changed to Pacific City when P.A. Stanton formed a local syndicate and purchased 40 acres along the beach with 20 acres on each side of Main Street. Stanton’s dream was to build a town on the Pacific Coast which would rival Atlantic City on the East Coast. Huntington Beach incorporated in 1909 under its first mayor, Ed Manning.
Its original developer was the Huntington Beach Company, a real-estate development firm owned by Henry Huntington, a railroad magnate after whom the city is named. The Huntington Company is still a major land-owner in the city. Huntington Beach remained a sleepy seaside town until the famous oil boom in the 1920’s. The initial growth of the city began with the oil boom in 1920.
This was the largest California oil deposit known at the time. Wells sprang up overnight and in less than a month the town grew from 1,500 to 5,000 people. After a final oil strike in 1953, the fire department began clearing out oil derricks within the city and along the coast to make room for the population explosion that began in the 1950’s.
Beginning in the late 1950’s and continuing into the 1960’s and 1970’s, residents by the thousands moved into the City. Huntington Beach became the fastest growing city in the continental U.S. As housing tract after housing tract were built.
In the 1970’s and 1980’s oil production rigs were concealed to improve the beach’s image. Forty years ago, Donald Douglas Jr. Acquired the bean fields across from the current U.S. Weapons Station bordering Bolsa Chica in HB.
He began building the Douglas Aircraft Space Systems Center. The plant produced the upper stage of the Saturn V rocket that took the Apollo astronauts on their successful mission to the moon. Douglas aircraft became McDonnell Douglas, and in the 1990’s Boeing purchased the combined firms. Today Boeing is one of the largest employers in HB. Four districts educate Huntington Beach elementary and middle school students: Huntington Beach City School District, Ocean View School District, Fountain Valley School District, and Westminster School District. The staff's high expectations for students and themselves are reflected in high performance levels and high test scores.
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The Huntington Beach Union High School District oversees six high schools in the area, four located in Huntington Beach: Huntington Beach High School, Ocean View High School, Marina High School, and Edison High School. District wide, the Class of 2003 had over 3,000 graduates who experienced a rigorous level of preparation and were well prepared for future goals. Huntington Beach Union High School District makes it a priority to increase student participation in college admission testing, giving more students the opportunity to attend college and successfully meet their professional goals. For the Class of 2003, 55% of the graduates took the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).
Scores are soaring above California and national averages. A recent survey of graduating seniors indicated that 95% plan to earn a college degree. Recent graduates also earned scholarship offers of over seventeen million dollars.
Our high quality schools are a major factor in preparing our youth for the workforce of the future. This district includes Edison High School, Huntington Beach High School, Marina High School, and Ocean View High School within the city; Fountain Valley High School in Fountain Valley, and Westminster High School in Westminster. The district also has an alternative school, Valley Vista High School, and an independent study school, Coast High School. The city’s first high school, Huntington Beach High School, was built in 1906 and celebrated its 100th year anniversary in 2006. The school’s team, the Oilers, is named after the city’s original natural resource. Huntington Beach is also home to two community colleges. The community colleges have a significant impact upon the local economy by further preparing Huntington Beach residents for higher education and the job market.
The Coast Community College District (CCCD) serves the broader Huntington Beach area on three campuses. Golden West College was founded in 1966, and is proud to house the only nursing and police training programs in the District. Located in the northern part of Huntington Beach near the 405 Freeway, its innovative architecture and attractive landscaping define the 122-acre Golden West College campus. The college offers a wide range of career, transfer, certificate programs, and community service events. Services include counseling, financial aid, childcare, health center, and a nationally recognized disabled students program. A 350-seat theater, an art gallery, and a science museum provide cultural opportunities for students and the community.
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Community college students often complete Associate Arts Degrees, choose from a wide choice of training certificates, or fulfill their lower division credits before transferring to four-year universities. The City of Huntington Beach is a full service city. Founded in the late 1880s, Huntington Beach was incorporated as a Charter City in 1909 and has a City Council/City Administrator form of government. Since its incorporation, Huntington Beach has made a name for itself through open, responsive city government.
Its major departments include the City Administrator's office, Building and Safety, Planning, Library Services, Public Works, Community Services, Information Services, Human Resources, Finance, Economic Development and Police and Fire. The residents of Huntington Beach are represented by ten elected officials: the seven City Council Members and the City Attorney, City Clerk and City Treasurer. The elected city council adopt laws, sets standards, approves contracts, determines municipal policy, and appoints a city administrator to be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the city. City Council Members are elected to four year terms and subject to term limits that restrict them from serving more than two consecutive terms. The Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem are selected from among the City Council Members. The largely ceremonial posts are determined by seniority on the City Council and the number of votes a Council Member is elected with.
The City Council meets the first and third Monday of each month. Unless otherwise announced, the meetings are held in the City Council Chambers and typically begin at 4 P.M. With a study session or closed session meeting. The televised portion of the City Council meeting starts at approximately 6 P.M. And can be viewed on cable television on channel 3. Council meetings are web cast live and also archived on the city's website.
The Civic Center, including the City Council Chambers, is located at 2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92648. The City Attorney, City Clerk and City Treasurer are also elected offices. These three elected officials also serve four year terms, but are not subject to term limits. The City Attorney represents the City in all legal matters and before administrative bodies. The City Clerk is the City's official Custodian of Records and preserves and maintains, in protective custody, all documents certifying City Council actions. The City Treasurer receipts all transactions for the City's annual budget of approximately $329 million and manages an investment portfolio of over $200 million. The City of Huntington Beach operates with 15 departments.
Three departments are headed by elected officials (City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Treasurer). The other 12 departments report, and are accountable, to the City Administrator. The City Administrator's office is responsible for the city's day-to-day operations and oversees city departments. The City Administrator and two Deputy City Administrators are accountable for the overall management of the city's 1,100 employees and $348 million budget.
Huntington Beach's City Administrator directs and coordinates the city's day-to-day operations, and works with the elected City Attorney, City Clerk, and City Treasurer to effectively manage the city. Working closely with the City Administrator are two Deputy City Administrators A total city budget for each year is approved by City Council. The general fund makes up about 50 percent of this budget figure.
Other funds include: water, capital projects, redevelopment, internal service, transportation, debt service, refuse, and other enterprises. Projects and services are budgeted from these resources. The largest source of revenue for the general fund is property tax at $30.9 million, making up 22% of the general fund. The next two highest resources are sales tax at $26.6 million, 19% of the city's general fund, and utility tax at $19.1 million, 14% of the general fund.
The City receives 1% of the taxable sales collected on retail purchases. Sales tax is one measurement of the City's economic vitality. Car sales and the sale of auto supplies comprise the City's largest retail segment contributing to the City's sales tax base.
A Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) is the tax paid by guests staying in hotels. Huntington Beach is fast becoming a destination resort area. The 10% TOT amount has increased as additional hotel and motel rooms have been added.
This revenue source is expected to increase further as proposed downtown hotels and conference facilities are completed and operational. Safety Fire protection in Huntington Beach is provided by the Huntington Beach Fire Department. The Huntington Beach Fire Department is a modern, well-equipped force that specializes in fire fighting, emergency medical, ambulance transport, fire prevention, and environmental protection. Fire prevention is crucial in a city with major oil production facilities and ongoing commercial and industrial development.
Professionally trained Fire Department firefighters and paramedics respond from all eight fire stations, helping make Huntington Beach a safer, more secure community. The voluntary FireMed Program, available to community residents, has over 26,000 households as members.
FireMed provides part of the critical financial support for paramedic and ambulance services. The City sponsors a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and has classes for volunteers to help citizens provide aid in their own neighborhoods in the event of a disaster. The Fire Department also has a cadre of volunteers including a senior's home inspection program (SHIP) that provides fire safety education to senior citizens.
Law enforcement is provided by the Huntington Beach Police Department. Huntington Beach is fortunate to have state-of-art communications and operations equipment to support the City's law enforcement efforts. Each patrol vehicle is equipped with a mobile data computer. Modern, turbine-powered police helicopters patrol the City day and night. The Police Department is staffed with well-trained, well-educated officers, and has its own full-service crime laboratory that allows for quick processing and evidence analysis. Huntington Beach is regularly included among the 15 safest communities in the United States, according to FBI statistics.
The city's lifeguards are recognized as some of the best in the world with a top notch safety record. Lifeguards patrol the 3.5-mile shoreline from dawn to dusk, 365 days a year.
Lifeguard Services, a part of Huntington Beach's Marine Safety Operation, provides public safety from Beach Blvd. North to Sea Point Ave.
Marine Safety Staff provides public safety through a variety of functions and responsibilities. The Ocean Lifeguard performs a vital role in providing frontline protection of life, limb, and property. Marine Safety Officers patrol and respond to ocean rescues, major medical and law enforcement incidents from their emergency vehicles and vessels.
Marine Safety staffs are highly skilled experts in aquatic rescue and incident command. They are trained and equipped to respond to a variety of rescue incidents within and outside of their primary jurisdiction.
This training and equipment make Marine Safety Specialized Rescue Teams a valuable resource for the city, and to other agencies requesting mutual aid assistance. City Services Voting - All United States citizens 18 years or older who have established residency in the city for at least 30 days are eligible to vote.
To be eligible to vote in a particular election, voters must be registered at least 30 days prior to an election. Voters must re-register upon change of address.
The City Clerk's Office, located on the second floor of City Hall at 2000 Main Street has voter registration forms available for the public. Residents can pick one up in person, or contact the office by phone at (714) 536-5227 and request that the form is mailed.
Once the registration form is received, simply take a few minutes to fill it out and drop it in the mail. Voter registration is also available on the Orange County Registrar of Voters website at www.oc.ca.gov/election. Communications - Four newspapers generally cover the Huntington Beach community: The Orange County Register, The Los Angeles Times, the weekly Huntington Beach Independent, and the weekly Huntington Beach Wave. The Huntington Beach Independent regularly publishes the official public notices for the City of Huntington Beach. HBTV-3, a city operated government channel, broadcasts City Council and Planning Commission meetings. Commercial radio, television, telephone, and Internet connections are widely available. Health Care - Several medical clinics and a full service hospital are located in Huntington Beach.
The Huntington Beach Hospital is a 133-bed facility centrally located in the city on Beach Boulevard. Medical centers, doctor, and dental offices are located throughout the community and serve a wide variety of specialties. The Huntington Beach Community Clinic and Dental Offices help meet the medical and dental needs for uninsured or low-income residents. Animal Control - Animal Care Services promotes responsible pet ownership; health and safety of people and animals; and spay/neuter programs. The Animal Care Center provides temporary shelter and medical care for 'lost' owned or stray animals and opportunities for adoption of these animals. Animal Care Services is a division of Orange County Health Care Agency.
Animal Care Services provides pet licensing and patrol services to 19 contract cities, including Huntington Beach, and all the unincorporated areas of Orange County. Animal Care Services Care Center houses and provides medical care for impounded dogs, cats and exotic animals. Adoption services are also available. Animal Care Services is located at 561 The City Drive South, Orange, CA 92868. You can reach Animal Control Services at (714) 935-6848. Utilities - Utilities in the City of HB include: Southern Edison Company, Southern California Gas Company, Municipal Water, Verizon Telephone and Video, and Time Warner Cable. Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) - The nearest DMV offices are located in Costa Mesa and Westminster.
Services provided by DMV offices include Vehicle Registration, Driver License and Information (ID) Card Processing. Generally, DMV offices are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8am to 5pm and Wednesday 9am to 5pm. Many DMV offices are open one Saturday per month from 8am-noon. For faster service, make an appointment online at www.dmv.ca.gov, or by calling 1-800-921-1117 or 1- 800-777-0133 before you visit a DMV office. To schedule a driving test appointment, you must call 1-800-777-0133 between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm PST and speak to a DMV representative.
Post Office - United States Post Services has several offices in Huntington Beach including: 316 Olive Ave., 92648; 6771 Warner Ave., 92647; and 7328 Center Ave., 92605. For more information or locations, call 1-800-ASK-USPS or visit www.usps.com Social Security Office - The Social Security Office for the City of Huntington Beach is located at SOCIAL SECURITY, SUITE B, 17075 Newhope Street, Fountain Valley, CA 92708. For hours and services, contact the office at 1-800-772-1213 or visit their website at www.ssa.gov.
Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce - The Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce is a strong business leader in the community. The Huntington Beach Chamber is intrinsically involved in the plans, strategies, programs, and services that promote a favorable business climate, improve the quality of life, and support orderly growth and development.
The Chamber has over 1,000 members and promotes these businesses through ribbon cuttings, networking events, community events, marketing, and other services. For more information call (714) 536-8888 or visit their website at www.hbchamber.org. Huntington Beach Small Business Assistance Center - The Huntington Beach Small Business Assistance Center (HBSBAC) goal is to provide entrepreneurs with an overview of management, marketing, and financial information and resources necessary to compete in today's challenging business environment. The Huntington Beach SBAC assists new or existing businesses to learn more about basic business principles through seminars, one-on-one counseling, and resource materials. For more information or to schedule a free appointment with the SBAC counselor, call (714) 536-8888. Business Development - The City Economic Development Department's Business Development Division seeks to attract new businesses and support existing business through retention and expansion efforts.
The Business Development Division works on one of the City's primary goals of maintaining a viable business environment throughout the community. The City works closely with commercial brokers, retail and industrial businesses, the Huntington Beach Chamber of Commerce, and other business organizations. For business assistance in Huntington Beach, call (714) 536-5582 or visit the comprehensive Economic Development Department website at www.hbbiz.com.
Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau - Huntington Beach is increasingly becoming a visitor destination. There are eighteen hotels and motels in the City, including the new 517-room Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa, with accommodations in a wide budget range. The Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau plays a vital role in promoting the City. The Bureau operates a Visitors Center that handles thousands of call-in, walk-in and email inquiries every year. It publishes and distributes an annual 68-page Visitor Guide, a Meeting Planners Guide, and a four-color rack brochure available in major cities across the western U.S.
The Bureau is responsible for www.surfcityusa.com, the official travel, lifestyle and entertainment website for the City, including the most comprehensive Calendar of Events listing of HB special events available anywhere in the world. The Bureau also is responsible for advertising and public relations programs aimed at generating overnight guests coming to Huntington Beach, funded entirely by a special Business Improvement District assessment. For more information call (714) 969-3492 or visit www.surfcityusa.com. Houses of Worship - All of the major religious affiliations are represented in Huntington Beach in over 50 houses of worship.
The Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council (GHBIC) represents all faiths and religions who come together to host special events, such as the Annual Procession of Lights, and other gatherings. County Government The City of Huntington Beach is located within Orange County, CA.
The mission statement for Orange County reads: Making Orange County a safe, healthy, and fulfilling place to live, work, and play, today and for generations to come, by providing outstanding, cost-effective regional public services. Popularly known as the OC, Orange County is a top business and leisure destination located in the heart of Southern California between Los Angeles County and San Diego County. The Orange County Board of Supervisors oversees the management of County government and many special districts including Flood Control, Development Agency, lighting districts, county service areas and sewer maintenance districts. The five Supervisors are elected by districts to four-year terms by the citizens of Orange County. Board members serve residents in districts of different sized areas, but the areas have approximately equal population. At the beginning of each year the Board selects a Chairman and Vice Chairman. The City of Huntington Beach is represented by Vice Chairman John M.
Moorlach, Supervisor Second District. The Supervisors' offices are located in the Hall of Administration, 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd., corner of Santa Ana Blvd. And Broadway, Santa Ana. The Orange County government website is www.ocgov.com.
State Government The State of California is governed as a republic, with three branches of government, the executive branch consisting of the Governor of California and the other elected constitutional officers, the legislative branch consisting of the Assembly and Senate, and the judicial branch consisting of the Supreme Court of California and lower courts. The State also allows direct participation of the electorate by referendum, recall, and ratification. California's constitution is one of the longest collections of laws in the world, taking up 110 pages.
Part of this length is caused by the fact that many voter initiatives take the form of a constitutional amendment. Many of the individual rights clauses in the state constitution have been construed as providing rights even broader than the Bill of Rights in the federal constitution. California's executive branch is headed by the Governor with offices located at the State Capitol in Sacramento. The 38th California Governor is Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, Secretary of State Debra Bowen, State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, Controller John Chiang, and Attorney General Edmund G. Complete the remainder of the executive branch.
All offices are elected separately to concurrent four-year terms. Each officer may be elected to an office a maximum of two times. Huntington Beach is represented on the state level by the state legislature. The California State Legislature is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house California State Senate, with 40 members. State Senator Tom Harmon represents the City of Huntington Beach, District 35, in the State Senate. Assembly Member Jim Silva represents the City of Huntington Beach, District 67, in the State Assembly. The State Legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento.
The judicial system of California is the largest in the United States, with about 1,600 judges hearing over 8 million cases each year (with the assistance of 19,000 staff members and 400 judicial 'equivalents' like commissioners and referees). In comparison, the federal judicial system has only about 840 judges. California's system is divided into three levels, with the Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal serving as appellate courts reviewing the decisions of the Superior Courts. The California Supreme Court consists of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices, who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the California Commission on Judicial Appointments. Justices are also ratified by the electorate at the next general election following their appointment and at the end of each twelve year term.
The Supreme Court's decisions are binding on all lower state courts. The California Courts of Appeal were added to the judicial branch by a constitutional amendment in 1904. The courts are organized into six districts, the First Appellate District in San Francisco, the Second District in Los Angeles, the Third District in Sacramento, the Fourth District in San Diego the Fifth District in Fresno, and the Sixth District in San Jose. The districts are further divided into 19 divisions sitting throughout the state at nine locations, and there are 105 justices serving on the Courts. Unlike the state supreme court, the Courts of Appeal have mandatory review jurisdiction under the informal legal tradition in common law countries that all litigants are entitled to at least one appeal. Each county in California has a Superior Court that hears all civil and criminal cases. The City of Huntington Beach is represented in the Fourth District with a courthouse located in Santa Ana.
Federal Government Above the state government, the City of Huntington Beach is also a part of the federal government of the United States. The federal government of the United States is the body that carries out the roles assigned to the federation of individual states in the U.S. The federal government has three branches: the executive, legislative, and judicial. The President of the United States George W. Bush presides over the federal government with Vice President Dick Cheney. The United States Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government.
It is bicameral, comprised of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House of Representatives consists of 435 members, each of whom represents a congressional district and serves for a two-year term. House seats are apportioned among the states by population; in contrast, each state has two Senators, regardless of population. The California State Senators for the City of Huntington Beach are Senator Barbara Boxer and Senator Dianne Feinstein Representative Dana Rohrabacher represents the City of Huntington Beach, District 46, in the House of Representatives. The City of Huntington Beach offers residents a diverse range of high quality residential options. The City offers everything from one-of-a-kind waterfront homes with private boat slips to neighborhoods of single-family residences on tree-lined streets to multi-family rental units.
According to the 2005 American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 73,665 housing units in Huntington Beach. In 2005, there were 44,005 owner-occupied housing units and 27,648 renter-occupied housing units. The median value of owner-occupied units was $711,000 and the median gross rent for renter-occupied units is $1,362. About 60 percent of the total housing units were built after 1970. Every year, millions of visitors and residents experience the finest of recreation in Huntington Beach.
Perhaps nowhere else in the world can one experience such a multitude of diverse recreational activities within such a small geographical area: beach, harbor, wetlands, parks, equestrian center, public pier, nature center, a sports complex and more! Nicknamed ' Surf City' for its beautiful wide beaches and consistently breaking surf, Huntington Beach residents enjoy a wide variety of outdoor activities.
Surfing, sailing, volleyball on the beach, fishing, tennis, golf, and many city recreation programs are available for all ages. Our community features one of the largest recreational piers in the world, public parks, riding stables and equestrian trails, a marina, a wildlife preserve, and an eight-mile biking, inline skating, jogging, and walking trail along the ocean.
The crown jewel of the recreation system is the 8.5 miles of wide, spacious beaches where in the summer, large crowds gather to watch the U.S Open of Surfing, AVP Pro Beach Volleyball, Hello Kitty Boardfest and other sporting events. Beaches Operated by the city, Huntington City Beach is one of the best beaches on the west coast, extremely popular with surfers. Home to the longest recreational pier in the state, the landmark HB Pier is located at the heart of Downtown.
Originally built in 1904 and rebuilt most recently during the early 1990’s, it is the longest concrete municipal pier in CA. Stretching 1,856 feet into the Pacific Ocean, it is a favorite spot for fisherman, families and romantics who flock here daily to enjoy the “million-dollar” sunsets. For more than a century, the Pier has been an iconic coastal symbol. Surfers can always been seen from the Pier since surfing still remains one of the most popular activities at Huntington City Beach. The waves here have a unique natural effect caused by edge-diffraction of ocean swells by the island of Catalina.
Because of the curve of the coastline at Huntington Beach, the beach actually faces southwest. This beach is also very popular for kite surfing. Throughout the year, numerous activities are held on the beach including surf and other sport competitions and community events. Dog Beach is a part of Huntington City Beach. This area of the beach is dog-friendly and a paradise for dog owners.
It is not unusual to see a dog and his owner tandem surfing. The northern and southern beaches, Bolsa Chica State Beach and Huntington State Beach, respectively, are state parks. Only the central beach, Huntington City Beach, is maintained by the city.
The Bolsa Chica State Beach is located across Pacific Coast Highway from the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. Bolsa Chica’s surf is mellow and rolling with consistently ride-able waves, making it a perfect place for beginners. Huntington State Beach is very popular with families.
More than 600 fire rings are available on the city and state beaches for nightly bonfires, a favorite activity among Huntington Beach locals. Central Park Central Park is one of the largest city parks in Southern California and home to many of the city’s major attractions and a pair of inviting restaurants.
Boasting an expansive 354 acres punctuated with mature trees, rolling lawns and placid lakes, Central Park is the region’s largest and most diverse greenbelts. The park is vegetated with native plants and wildlife. Thick forests encircling the park are supplemented with Australian trees, particularly eucalyptus. The Huntington Beach Central Library and Cultural Center is located in Central Park, which houses almost a half-million volumes, as well as a theater, gift shop and fountains. The park is also home to the Huntington Central Park Equestrian Center, a top class boarding facility that offers horse rentals to the public, with 25 acres of public bridle trails, guided trail rides, and a riding school.
The world’s second oldest disc (Frisbee) golf course is available in the park as well and has been touted as the most beautiful course of its kind in Southern California. The Sports Complex, which provides 45-acres of recreation including eight softball fields overlaid with an equal number of soccer and seven batting cages, is another popular feature of Central Park. Adventure Playground for kids, the Huntington Beach Playhouse, and the Donald D.
Shipley Nature Center, an 18-acre forest that for the past 25 years has remained a wild and natural area for native wildlife, can all be found within Central Park. Huntington Harbour Huntington Harbour offers serenity, abundant wildlife and calm waters. The Harbour is comprised of five man-made islands bounded by a network of navigable channels and the land surrounding them.
The Harbour is home to multi-million dollar homes and serves as a pleasure craft port. This area is very popular for sport fishing, private charters, electric boat rentals and kayaking. Huntington Harbour is also home to the Annual Cruise of Lights, a series of narrated evening cruises during the winter holidays when the area is decorated with festive decorations and elaborate lights. The County of Orange runs Sunset Marina Park next to Huntington Harbour and is part of Anaheim Bay. Bolsa Chica Ecological Preserve Between Downtown and Huntington Harbour lies a large marshy wetland, much of which is protected within the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. A $110 million restoration of the wetlands was completed in 2006.
The Bolsa Chica Wetlands contain numerous trails and scenic routes. The wetlands themselves have recently been connected with the ocean again, in an effort to maintain its previous, unaltered conditions. The Reserve is popular with bird watchers and photographers. Great blue herons and snowy egret stake their majestic place among the nearly 200 species of birds that can be seen at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. The Ecological Reserve also features an Interpretive Center for visitors. Special Events The City of Huntington Beach offers activities year-round to visitors and residents alike. A recent Los Angeles Times article noted the Huntington Beach Farmers Market and Craft Fair “enjoys the most beautiful location of any market in the Southland-right along the beach.” Located at Pier Plaza at Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway, the Farmers Market and Craft Fair is open Friday afternoons from 1:00 to 6:00 PM (or sunset, depending on the season) and features a wide variety of freshly-picked fruits and vegetables, flowers and more.
The Arts and Crafts feature over 60 booths of handmade items, ranging from candles and soaps to jewelry to art to clothing. Residents and visitors alike stroll through the Farmers Market and Craft Fair for the constantly-changing offerings. The city holds the oldest Independence Day Parade in the western United States. This is televised locally on the public access cable channel, HBTV-3. In 2004, Huntington Beach celebrated the 100 year anniversary of the 4th of July Parade.
Huntington Beach plays host to numerous other annual events. Every summer, Huntington Beach hosts the World Surfing Championships and the U.S. Open of Surfing, the largest surfing competition in the world, which drew 100,000 people its final day in 2005. The AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tournament is also held on the beach each year. Huntington Beach holds an Annual Cruise of Lights Boat Tour every winter holiday. This is a parade of colorful lighted boats through the Huntington Harbour bayside neighborhood. In late February, kite fliers flock to the Annual Kite Party.
Professional kite fliers hold demonstrations and kite fliers of all skills come and show off their varied and amazing kites. Huntington Beach is also the host city of the National Professional Paintball League Super 7 Paintball Championships. The NPPL holds its first event of the year traditionally in March.
Other annual events include the Huntington Beach Pier’s Polar Plunge on Jan. 1; Miss Huntington Beach Scholarship Pageant; Easter Hunt; Duck-A-Thon, Concours d’Elegance; Surf City 5K Run; City of Huntington Beach Distance Derby; Huck Finn Fishing Derby; Civil War Reenactment; SoCal Independent Film Festival; Senior Saturday Community Festival; Oktoberfest; Running for the Birds 5K/10K Run; Main Street Halloween Celebration; and New Year’s Eve Senior Ballroom Dance. The City of Huntington Beach holds monthly events including Ballroom Dance run by the Huntington Beach Council on Aging, Bolsa Chica Wetlands Tour, and Huntington Beach Disc Golf Tournament. Some events are held every week as well. These include a Farmer’s Market and Art-A-Faire, Saturday Sunrise Car Cruisers, Surf City Nights Street Fair, and a Swap Meet at Golden West College.
Huntington City Beach is a 3.5-mile stretch of pristine shoreline. Popularly known as ' Surf City,' Huntington Beach is home to the world famous municipal pier, and is a west coast surf mecca for more than 8 million annual visitors. Whether enjoying an evening at one of our fire pits or enjoying a day at a professional sporting event such as the U.S. Open of Surfing, ' Surf City' offers a variety of exceptional, recreational, cultural, and entertainment opportunities.
The City of Huntington Beach has 1,121 lane miles of public streets and has easy freeway access to Los Angeles International Airport, John Wayne Orange County Airport, and Long Beach Airport. The city also offers bus service and rail freight service. The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles are located less than 20 miles away from the city and provide shipping and travel services. The Transportation Division of the Department of Public Works is responsible for providing a safe and efficient transportation system within the City of Huntington Beach that supports a balanced use of vehicular, pedestrian, transit and bicycle activity while servicing the residential, commercial and industrial needs of the community.
This includes oversight of the design and maintenance of all traffic control devices and pole lighting on City property, sign, marking, signal, and lighting maintenance, traffic signal operation, lighting, and the bus shelter program. Traffic safety and control is enforced by the Traffic/Aero Bureau of the Huntington Beach Police Department.
The primary function of the Traffic/Aero Bureau is to provide for safe movement of traffic within the City of Huntington Beach. This bureau also includes School Crossing Guards. Highways – The major highways in Huntington Beach are Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) on the coast connecting the beach cities, the San Diego Freeway (I-405) connecting with all other major freeways in Southern California, and Beach Boulevard (Highway 39) running directly through the heart of Huntington Beach. The Pacific Coast Highway is also a national scenic byway and one of the most unique highways in America, stretching from San Diego through Huntington Beach past San Francisco. Bordering the city and state beaches as it runs through the City of Huntington Beach, this highway is recognized by Congress in the National Scenic Byways Program of the Federal Highway Administration as an “ All-American Road” and is designated as a Scenic Highway by the State of California.