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Community Celebrates New Fence Near Isla Vista Cliffs

By Renee Nordstrand on May 20, 2013

A section of an Isla Vista bluff at Walter Capps Park may have just gotten safer for members of the community.

In a ribbon-cutting ceremony that involved Santa Barbara County officials, members of the community, students from UC Santa Barbara and park personnel, a 390-foot fence at the park was officially unveiled. The hope is that the fence, which now provides a barrier between the public park and the cliffs overlooking the ocean, will help stymie a rash of falls that have left people injured or dead over the years.

Supervisor for the 3rd District, Doreen Farr, was at the unveiling and said that this last cliff barrier to be installed on Isla Vista public land was “a long time coming.” The project was collaboration between private groups, the UCSB Associated Students, the Isla Vista Recreation and Park District and Santa Barbara County parks. Private funding and donations were obtained to complete the project that had been stalled for several years.

This news comes on the heels of the death of a UC Santa Barbara student from Santa Rosa who reportedly fell to her death from an Isla Vista bluff last month following the break-up of a “Deltopia” party.

The property liability attorneys at the Law Office of Reneé J. Nordstrand applaud the erection of the fence designed to protect the public from falls that can result in serious injuries and death. One has to wonder, as the Supervisor for the 3rd District noted, why it took so long to happen.

Whether it is public or private land, it is a property owner’s responsibility to ensure that property is free from hazards that can result in injuries or death. If you believe you have suffered an injury, or if a loved one has been lost, due to a property owner’s negligence, you should contact us for a consultation and review of your legal options.

We can be reached at our Santa Barbara office at (805) 962-2022 or our Encino office at (818) 981-3530. You can rely on our years of experience for sure-handed guidance to protect your legal rights.