Sam Gilbert
Special to Mustang News
On Nov. 15, the Cal Poly Pier in Avila Beach will be open for a public tour from 9 a.m. to noon. The pier was donated to the university in 2001 to encourage field research for Cal Poly’s Center for Coastal Marine Sciences and the SLOSEA program. Since then, 1,500 students per year have used it for classes and research, according to a university press release.
The event features more than just a tour of the pier:
- Displays will be featured at the ocean end, including special touch tanks and small microscopes to interact with marine animals and a “Discover Scuba” experience.
- Cal Poly faculty and students will be present to explain the classes and research, such as the protection of Morro Bay’s ecosystem, the pier is being used for.
- Beautiful views of the coast and sea creatures for camera-ready moments.
The pier is located on Avila Beach Drive. Because of limited parking, there are public parking lots in Avila Beach for all attendees to park in.
For safety, closed-toe walking shoes are required since the pier is a half-mile long. If it’s raining, the event will be cancelled.