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A popular nude beach along the Bay Area coastline is set to be added to a California state park, officials announced Monday.
The beach, San Gregorio State Beach south of Half Moon Bay in San Mateo County, neighbors the 238-acre San Gregorio Ranch property. The property was purchased by the Peninsula Open Space Trust for $10 million to ensure it stays open to the public and avoids development. The deal closed in the spring, and the nonprofit plans to donate its property to California State Parks, the parks system said in a news release.
Before this year, the part of that stretch of coast that included a hidden nude beach was privately owned as part of the San Gregorio Ranch just off Highway 1 and Highway 84. The previous land owners informally managed the beach access prior to the Peninsula Open Space Trust sale - the owners charged a parking fee of $7 per car. San Gregorio State Beach, which did not include the clothing-optional beach area, was already owned and managed by the state parks system. The new acquisition will increase the beach area's size by more than 50%, state parks officials said.
The area is temporarily closed for maintenance and safety upgrades, state parks officials said, but it is expected to open to the public on July 29.
Now, under the state parks system, the park will be open at the same hours as the state beach, from 8 a.m. to sunset. A new trail is planned to connect the two properties, and another nonprofit group, Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, has agreed to help with visitor services and day-to-day park operations.
However, officials have not said whether it will remain a nude beach. The hidden nude beach is considered to be one of the first clothing-optional beaches in North America, SFGATE previously reported.
Before the property was sold to Peninsula Open Space Trust, the group raised more than $16 million to purchase the land, fund maintenance and eventually donate it to State Parks.
Gordon Clark, president of the trust, said the recent move made their vision a "reality."
"Protecting this property and ensuring its long-term stewardship as part of the California State Park system fulfills POST's mission and vision on multiple levels," Clark said in the statement. "Not only is this land great for human visitors, but it is home to a rare stand of native dune grass and other important habitats that many species rely on."
The organization previously said acquiring the property would help conserve several native species on the land, including the California kingsnake, California red-legged frog, acorn woodpecker, American badger and California quail.
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