Redondo Beach – Beaches & Harbors

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LOS ANGELES COUNTY
REDONDO BEACH
  • OVERVIEW
  • AVENUE A RAMP REPLACEMENT
ABOUT THE BEACH

VISIT REDONDO BEACH

FIND ANOTHER BEACHFIND ANOTHER BEACH

Redondo Beach is over a mile and a half long and it runs south from the Redondo Beach Pier to Torrance Beach. There is a parking structure at the pier along with street parking. Amenities include showers, restrooms, and volleyball nets.

The beach is great for swimming, surfing, and windsurfing and the horseshoe-shaped pier is good for fishing and has many restaurants and shops.

Redondo Beach Topaz jetty
Avenue H lifeguard tower
redondo_beach
redondo_beach
Redondo Beach
redondo_beach
Redondo Landing on the Redondo Beach Pier

Location

400-1700 Esplanade Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Parking

Parking Lot & Street Parking Accessible via Beach Cities Transit 102, Bus 3, Bus 7 at stop Redondo Beach Pier

Activities

Beach Lifeguards – Daylight Hours Diving Fishing Surfing Swimming Volleyball Windsurfing

Facilities

Beach Wheelchairs Bike Path Access Restaurants Restrooms Showers Stairs to Beach

REDONDO BEACH SURF REPORT

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BEACH HISTORY

Redondo LandingThe written history of the Redondo Beach area began in 1542 when Spanish explorer, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo discovered Santa Monica Bay. Despite its discovery, the area remained a sleepy Indian village for more than 200 years.

By 1784 Redondo Beach was a part of the 75,000 acre Spanish land grant named Rancho San Pedro.

In 1837 the original San Pedro Land Grant was altered and a new land grant was issued to Antonio Ygnacio Avila consisting of 22,500 acres of land.

On June 19, 1856, the U.S. District Court issued a decree of confirmation of title to Mr. Avila for Rancho Sausal Redondo. It was a rich farming and grazing area until the late 1800’s.

In 1889, 433 acres of coastal tract was sold for $12,000 to the Redondo Beach Improvement Company. The owners Robert Thompson and John Ainsworth, promoted, developed, and sold the land that eventually became the nucleus of the city of Redondo Beach. By 1892 Redondo Beach became an incorporated city and served as an early Port of Los Angeles.

Redondo Beach was also the home of California’s first modern surfer.

surfer at Redondo BeachIn 1907, Henry Huntington brought the ancient art of Hawaiian surfing to the California coast.

He owned most of the properties in Redondo Beach and was eager to sell them to visiting Angelenos looking for a break from the heat of the greater Los Angeles basin.

Huntington had seen Hawaiian beach boys surfing and decided to hire one of them; a young Hawaiian-English athlete named George Freeth to demonstrate the art of surfing for the entertainment of Redondo Beach visitors.

George wanted to revive the art of surfing that he had seen depicted in old Polynesian paintings but found it difficult and had little success using the typical 16-foot hardwood boards. He cut them in half and unwittingly created the original long board which worked exceedingly well and made him the talk of the Hawaiian Islands.

George exhibited his surfing prowess for Redondo Beach visitors twice a day in front of the Hotel Redondo. He was eventually made the official Redondo Beach lifeguard and the first lifeguard in Southern California. He organized and trained professional lifeguard corps and was also credited with inventing the torpedo rescue can, which is still used by modern lifeguards.

From 1907 to 1915, George spread a surfing revolution that would eventually become a stable phenomenon on the California Coast. A memorial bronze statue of George Freeth was placed at the Redondo Beach Pier and it is often decorated with leis as tribute from surfers who visit from around the world.

Other attractions such as sport fishing and amusements such as games, rides, and the largest salt water plunge in the world added to the excitement and appeal of Redondo Beach.

Redondo Beach PierHowever, with the completion of the San Pedro Harbor, Redondo’s popularity started to decline.

Prohibition also caused the closure of popular Hotel Redondo. The $250,000 hotel closed its doors in 1925 and was sold for scrap lumber for a mere $300.

During the Great Depression, gambling, complete with mobsters and shooting incidents found its way to Redondo Beach. Bingo parlors, chip games, and a casino were run in full view of the law between 1936 and 1940. A water-taxi was available for 25 cents per person to take visitors to the gambling ship Rex, which operated 3 miles off shore.

In 1956, work began on the marina that Redondo Beach has today. King Harbor was named after United States Congressman Cecil R. King. Redondo experienced a population boom during this time. In 1940 the population was 13,092 and by 1965 it had increased to 54,772 residents. Today Redondo Beach is still considered and known as a tourist and resort destination.

REDONDO BEACH

AVENUE A BEACH ACCESS REPLACEMENT

The Avenue A  beach access ramp is undergoing a complete transformation to ensure safe, equitable, and environmentally conscious access for all visitors. A new, ADA-compliant access path and stairway will replace the crumbling walkway. The new, more resilient ramp will allow safe access between the Esplanade and the beach for people of all ages and abilities for decades to come.

The new design will include:

  • ADA-compliant ramp access with handrails
  • Spacious landings for rest and stability
  • Durable materials to withstand coastal conditions
  • Stairway access to enhance connectivity
  • Native plants to increase coastal bluff habitat
Rendering of proposed Avenue A access ramp and stairway redesign

Download Proposed Site Plan (.pdf)

JUMP TO PROJECT TIMELINE

The access will be the only ADA ramp between Torrance Beach and the Redondo Pier. In the meantime, beachgoers can still reach the sand using the Avenue C stairs and ramp or the Knob Hill stairs. Both accessways are less than a quarter-mile from Avenue A.

BACKGROUND

The Avenue A beach access ramp was closed in November 2021 after inspections found serious structural failures in the retaining wall protecting the path. Severe damage to the masonry blocks and corrosion of internal steel reinforcement caused the wall to lean toward the path and lose its ability to safely support the bluff above. Additional concerns included cracked and uneven walking surfaces and erosion along the accessway.

Engineers determined the retaining wall posed a risk of collapse. Less than two months after the closure, a portion of the wall failed, confirming the extent of the damage. Temporary fencing was installed to prevent public access to the area.

Closing the ramp was necessary to protect public safety. After the closure, the County started planning a replacement that meets current safety, accessibility and engineering standards.

PLANNING, DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION

In typical infrastructure projects, planning and design are completed before facilities are closed. In this case, the Avenue A ramp was closed first due to an urgent public safety risk, and planning and design began afterward.

Before construction can proceed, several steps must be completed to ensure the replacement ramp is safe, accessible, and compliant with environmental and coastal regulations. Much of this work occurs off-site and is not immediately visible to the public.

Work Completed

  • Structural assessments of the failed ramp and retaining wall
  • Topographic surveys and geotechnical investigations
  • Development of conceptual and final engineering designs
  • Preparation of environmental documentation in compliance with state requirements
  • Capital project budgeting and funding coordination
  • Coordination with the City of Redondo Beach and the California Coastal Commission
  • Submission of required permit applications

Remaining Steps

  • Completion and approval of environmental documentation under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
  • Issuance of required Coastal Development Permits
  • Final plan check and construction approvals

PROJECT SCHEDULE

The timeline below may change based on permitting and environmental reviews. Last updated Feb. 6, 2026.

Key

  • Completed
  • In Progress
  • Planned
Phase Timeframe Status
Initial Assessment & Closure 2021 Completed
Investigations & Conceptual Design 2022 Completed
Design Development 2023 Completed
Final Design & Construction Documents 2024 Completed
Environmental Review (CEQA) 2024 – 2026 In Progress
City Coastal Development Permitting 2024 – 2026 In Progress
Coastal Commission Permitting 2025 – 2026 In Progress
Building & Safety Plan Review 2026 In Progress
County Approvals & Contract Award 2026 Planned
Construction 2027 – 2028 Planned

The timeline below may change based on permitting and environmental reviews. Last updated Feb. 6, 2026.

Key

  • Completed
  • In Progress
  • Planned
Phase Timeframe Status
Safety Closure & Initial Assessment 2021 Completed
Emergency Closure Authorization 2021 Completed
Investigations & Conceptual Design 2022 Completed
Design Development 2023 Completed
Final Design & Construction Documents 2024 Completed
Environmental Review (CEQA) 2024 – 2026 In Progress
City Coastal Development Permitting 2024 – 2026 In Progress
Coastal Commission Permitting 2025 – 2026 In Progress
Building & Safety Plan Review 2026 In Progress
County Approvals & Contract Award 2026 Planned
Construction 2027 – 2028 Planned

RELATED LINKS

  • Proposed Site Plan (.pdf)
  • Avenue A Access Ramp Update (City of Redondo Beach)
  • Notice of Intent to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration (City of Redondo Beach) (.pdf)
  • Avenue A Access Ramp Project Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (City of Redondo Beach) (.pdf)
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