By Daily Press staff
Due to a leaky roof, Heal the Bay’s Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is closing for two months for renovation.
The Pier Aquarium will be closed to the general public from Sept. 5 until Oct. 31 for a roof reconstruction project. During that time, the aquarium won’t be offering field trip education programs or birthday parties.
Aquarium staff began earnestly documenting its leaky roof problems two winters ago, when the second soggiest winter on record forced staff to sandbag around the doors, strategically position buckets over tanks and computers, and constantly run dehumidifiers and fans to dry out soggy carpets.
This spring, leadership at the Pier Restoration Corporation and the city of Santa Monica’s Resource Management Department recommended the Santa Monica City Council approve a $240,000 expenditure to replace the roof above the aquarium. The City Council approved the proposal in June, and architectural plans were developed along with a request for bids with the goal to begin the project Sept. 1.
Heal the Bay will contribute funds toward the roofing project, using a portion of a $650,000 State Coastal Conservancy grant awarded in April for the aquarium’s renovation. The funds will be used over a three-year period to improve the aquarium’s marine life support system, conduct a feasibility study and plan for a possible building renovation, as well as to plan for new aquarium exhibits and improve signage and Aquarium presence on top of the pier.
More information is available by calling (310) 393-6149. Visit www.healthebay.org/smpa for updates and further details.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 23, 2006. Read the original PDF.