Harbor Commission Supports West Beach Cultural Center Proposal
The Santa Barbara Harbor Commission has expressed support for repurposing the long-closed West Beach wading pool into a Chumash cultural center and tomol house, a proposal that will next be considered by the Santa Barbara City Council. The wading pool,…
Santa Barbara Santa Maria San Luis Obispo, CA, October 24, 2026 —
The Santa Barbara Harbor Commission has expressed support for a proposal to repurpose the long-closed West Beach wading pool as a Chumash cultural center and tomol house. The proposal will next be considered by the Santa Barbara City Council.
The wading pool, near the Los Banos del Mar swimming pool, has been out of service since 2014 because of a leak. The information provided does not specify whether the pool has undergone repairs or what condition it is in now.
The commission’s support marks a step in consideration of the proposed reuse, but the proposal’s next stage is before the City Council. No date for council consideration was provided, and the details of the commission’s action—including whether it was a formal vote—were not included.
Details about the proposed center and tomol house, such as their planned design, programming, cost, funding, and schedule, were also not provided. The available information does not state what decision the City Council will make or what steps would follow its consideration.
The proposal concerns the future use of a site that has remained out of service for years. For now, the stated next step is City Council consideration; further information about the proposal and the council’s process was not available.
Story summarized from the original created by Rebecca Caraway, Noozhawk Staff Writer on www.noozhawk.com, see more information here.
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