State Parks Lifeguards and Boardwalk prepare for busy weekend in Santa Cruz

If you are headed to Santa Cruz for the Memorial Day weekend, you are probably not alone.

Crowds are expected to swarm the boardwalk and beaches around the County.

State Parks Lifeguard Supervisor Eddie Rhee-Pizano says while the crowds are weather dependent, they will be prepared, “we have a couple extra lifeguards that come in, we have jet skis and water crafts patrolling certain areas of the coastline here in Santa Cruz and just get ready for a busy weekend.”

Rhee-Pizano says the busiest beaches tend to be those with picnic benches, easy parking and fire pits. Whether you’re going to swim or hang out of the beach, he has a suggestion, “we always recommend going to beaches where there’s a lifeguard tower that’s open, especially if you have family members or kids entering the water there’s a lifeguard on duty watching everybody on the beach.”

While this weekend is though of as the kick off to Summer, the water is not going to feel like it. “The water is colder due to the upwelling of the winds, so you do tend to get more hypothermia in the water. We do have stronger currents usually this time of year as well so if you’re coming out to the beach for the first time or beginning of the year here we do recommend you swim near a lifeguard, stay close to shore and the routine saying is trust your gut. If you don’t know if you should be in the water, then don’t go out,” says Rhee-Pizano.

The boardwalk is also expecting a lot of people, “memorial tends to be one of our busiest holiday weekends of the year,” says Advertising Director Sondra Woods.

Her tip for people thinking about coming to the Boardwalk, “I would suggest getting here early, we’re opening tomorrow (Saturday) at 10 AM. Sunday and Monday we’re opening at 9 am. So get here early you’ll get the best parking you’ll be first in line.”

The Boardwalk is also offering free parking and a free shuttle starting at 11:30am Saturday-Monday from 701 Ocean Street.