The Ventura County Board of Supervisors approved a project at its March 3, 2026 meeting to rehabilitate several of the most used public parking lots along Harbor Boulevard at Channel Islands Harbor, enhancing safety, accessibility, and visitor amenities along the harbor’s waterfront.

The project will focus on west-side parking lots located along Harbor Boulevard between Albacore Way and Cabezone Circle. The improvements are part of a partnership between the County of Ventura and the City of Oxnard established through a 2021 cooperation agreement. As part of the agreement, the City of Oxnard will fund 50 percent of the total project costs.

Phase 1 of the two-phase project, from Albacore Way to Barracuda Way, includes pavement rehabilitation and replacement work designed to improve the condition and usability of the harbor’s visitor-serving parking areas. Planned work includes selective demolition of existing pavement and sidewalks, replacement of asphalt concrete paving, grinding and overlay of existing pavement, and slurry sealing where appropriate. The project will also add pavement striping, updated signage, curb and gutter repairs, and accessibility improvements to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.

The contract was awarded to PaveWest, LLC, the lowest responsible bidder, in the amount of $629,197.80, approximately 3.2 percent below the engineer’s estimate of $650,000.

Ventura County Harbor Department Director Michael Tripp said this project is part of the Harbor Department’s broader, multi-year initiative to upgrade infrastructure throughout the harbor. Over the past two years, significant improvements to parking lots have been made, including replacement of the Kiddie Beach parking lot, slurry seal and resurfacing of the Silver Strand parking lot, full replacement of the Channel View Park parking lot, and upgrades to the concrete near the harbor’s boat launch ramp.

“These upgrades will improve the visitor experience at Channel Islands Harbor while ensuring the parking facilities remain safe, accessible, and well maintained,” Director Tripp said. “Together, these investments enhance public safety, improve accessibility, and strengthen the Harbor’s role as a premier coastal destination.”

Phase 1 construction is expected start in March 2026 and take approximately 40 working days once work begins.

Editor’s Note: this article was published on March 3, 2026.