White Point Nature Preserve
White Point Overview
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The White Point Nature Preserve features acres of coastal habitat on a scenic site overlooking the ocean and Catalina Island. A half-mile handicapped accessible pathway circles the wildflower grasslands on the flatter areas, while trails crisscross the slopes covered with coastal sage scrub habitat.
The restored habitat in the Preserve is reaching maturity. The coastal sage scrub plantings include many attractive flowering plants such as purple sage, bush sunflower and goldenbush. Success in the habitat restoration efforts have been observed as flocks of meadowlarks made the Preserve their home, swooping over the grasslands and endangered gnatcatchers nested in the habitat, raising fledglings. A volunteer naturalist has been doing monthly bird and insect counts, finding many rare birds, beautiful butterflies and exquisite dragonflies.
A great number of additional improvements have been completed, per the Master Plan approved in 2000 after significant community input. Interpretive signage explaining the restoration efforts and the unique history of the site was installed in 2007, and the larger building has been adaptively re-purposed and is in the process of being converted into a nature education center. A demonstration garden is currently being installed around this center.
At the end of 2007, the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks and the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy announced the completion and official opening of the new parking area White Point. The environmentally sensitive parking area has been constructed of a gravel material which is designed to be completely permeable to allow rainwater to percolate through the surface into the ground helping to safeguard the natural water cycle. The parking area provides space for 44 vehicles, a rack for bicycles and drop-off area for school buses. Visitors may park on the Preserve without fee during regular daily hours from dawn to dusk.
The 102-acre White Point parcel owned by the City of Los Angeles was preserved as natural open space in December 1999. In May 2000, the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks and the 15th Council District formally dedicated the space as a nature preserve and in 2003, this scenic landscape was opened to the public for all to enjoy. The Land Conservancy currently has a 25-year management agreement with the City of Los Angeles to restore the coastal sage scrub, cactus scrub, and grasslands habitat, and implement the 
Master Plan [2.8MB].
Directions
From the south end of Western Avenue in San Pedro, turn left onto Paseo del Mar which runs parallel to the ocean. The White Point Nature Preserve is on the north side of Paseo del Mar between Western and Weymouth Avenues. Parking is available in the lot along Paseo del Mar from sun up to sun down during Preserve hours. There are pedestrian entrances to the Preserve along Paseo del Mar, Weymouth Avenue, and Western Avenue.
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