The sign said in its upper left, "East Beach." Below that read: Beach Open

The most recent bacteria testing indicates the ocean water is within acceptable health standards for contact recreation.

Thank you for doing your part to keep the water clean.

The larger part of the sign to the right read: Clean Water

Santa Barbara County has some of the world's most beautiful beaches.
We all need to do our part to protect them from pollution.

Creek and ocean water pollution results when animal droppings, trash, food wastes, garden chemicals, and automotive by-products, such as oil and other fluids, enter our waterway.

Remember, pollution along streets and sidewalks enters storm drains, then creeks, and flows straight to the ocean.

You can help:

• Clean up after your pet
• Dispose of trash in receptacles
• If you own a septic system, have it serviced regularly
• Properly dispose of all yard waste, or, better yet, compost it
• Recycle used motor oil and dispose of hazardous waste properly

Cabrillo East Lot, had a "Pay here in advance" sign in the parking lot. Parking rates were US $3.00 for 3 hours or US $7.00 for all day. Hours of Operation were 10:00 AM to 2:00 AM Monday through Friday, and 6:00 AM to 2:00 AM on Saturday, Sunday, Holidays and Special Events. The sign also warned, "No Parking 2:00 AM to 6:00 AM, Violators will be ticketed."

The beach as seen looking south along Niños Drive. The traffic light visible at the far end was South Cabrillo Boulevard.

The parking lot located at the foot of Niños Drive where it terminated at South Cabrillo Boulevard. The stalls were numbered so that one could easily pay by shoving dollar bills into the parking-rate sign.

A covered walkway provided shaded seating where once could rest with a view of the beach.

Next to a small playground were children's swings with a view of the ocean. A paved ramp led to one swing so that wheeled conveyances could roll out to at least one swing.

A city run gym with showers, lockers, and a weight room. Open weekdays from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and closed weekends. A daily single-visit was $US 4.00.

A story about the East Beach would not be complete without a shot of the beach itself. Here is how it looked when viewed from the East Beach Grill.

A gull loitered on an exterior tabletop in front of the East Beach Grill.

A path led into the beach on the west side of the Cabrillo Bathhouse building. To the left of this path was a second parking lot located where Corona Del Mar ended at South Cabrillo Boulevard.

With the Cabrillo Bathhouse as a background, this beach scene resembled a European resort.

The East Beach Grill was set into the beach-side of the Cabrillo Bathhouse. Good food at a fair price, open for breakfast and early lunch only, and serves Peets coffee.

Gulls gathered that day on the beach sand.

A small but nice children's playground was available just off the covered walkway between the east parking lot and the Cabrillo Bathhouse. Notice the swings at the extreme right.

The beach viewed looking due West toward downtown Santa Barbara.

The beach viewed looking due East toward the Santa Barbara cemetery.

A Beach Wrack is important to animals and plants that live on beaches. It is the piles of stranded seaweed and kelp that wash up and gather on shore. Here was a pond next to beach wracks where birds gathered.

A bicycle path ran along side the beach. To the right, notice that many beach volleyball courts were occupied.

A shuttle stopped at the beach. According to the sign, a ride cost US 25¢. The shuttle was run by the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District . The Downtown Waterfront Shuttle could be taken to East Beach.