King Tides Spotlight Closed Ocean Beach Pier Amid $170‑190 Million Replacement Plan

The History of the Ocean Beach Pier

The structure officially opened on July 2, 1966, as the San Diego Fishing Pier. 1,971‑foot of concrete stretches into the Pacific, making it the longest of its kind on the West Coast. Decades of storms and the churning ocean made the pier unsafe as pilings sank and pieces of the structure fell off. The City of San Diego closed it for good more than two years ago and decided to replace it rather than repair it.

Why the Pier Was Shut

The pier’s condition had deteriorated to the point that it posed a safety hazard for visitors. After the closure, the city began planning a replacement that would address the structural issues and provide a modern, safer experience for beachgoers.

The Replacement Plan and Funding

Architect renderings and a design of the new pier were approved after several public input sessions. The new design is much more expensive than the cost would have been to repair it again, with estimates ranging from $170 million to $190 million. State and federal grants are expected to cover the cost, but the City has only raised $8.4 million used in the initial design process.

Community Voices and Vandalism

“My favorite memories (on the pier) are definitely the cold winter and the hot chocolate I got from the cafe,” said Chelsea Banales. She grew up in San Diego and visited OB frequently with her dad when he went fishing on the pier. As an adult, she brings out‑of‑town friends to her favorite beach and doesn’t understand why the pier hasn’t reopened. “I really hope that they don’t just abandon the project because of money and it loses its infrastructure, coming down and then is just completely forgotten about,” Banales said.

Geoff Page, a long‑time community activist and reporter for the OB Rag, told NBC 7, “It’s a beautiful old pier. It’s a sad way for it to end, there’s nothing noble about it at all.” He also said, “You’re not (just) building it for Ocean Beach. You’re (re)building it for the people in this county, and all the tourists that come. The pier is dying.” Page discovered the pier had been recently vandalized: cables cut and yards of copper wire removed. He plans to file a police report this coming week.

A rusted chain with a small commercial lock is the only security holding the Ocean Beach pier gates closed, December 7, 2025. Photo credit M.G. Perez.

Current Status and Next Steps

The pier remains closed. It is visible in the distance from the annual 40‑ft crooked star pine Christmas tree at the end of Newport Avenue, Ocean Beach, Calif., December 7, 2025. NBC 7 reached out to the City of San Diego for comment, but a communications representative said there was no one available on the weekend.

According to information on the City’s website, the OB Pier Renewal Project has just begun the permitting and environmental review process.

Key Takeaways

• The Ocean Beach pier, opened in 1966, closed in October 2023 after safety concerns.
• A new pier design, costing $170‑190 million, has been approved but funding is limited to $8.4 million so far.
• Community members, including Chelsea Banales and Geoff Page, are urging the city to complete the replacement and address vandalism.

The most recent King tides brought attention to the closed pier’s condition, highlighting the need for the City of San Diego to move forward with the renewal project while securing the necessary funding and addressing community concerns.