White Point Nature Preserve
White Point Overview
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The White Point Nature Preserve features acres of coastal habitat on a scenic site overlooking the ocean and Catalina Island. A half-mile handicapped accessible pathway circles the wildflower grasslands on the flatter areas, while trails crisscross the slopes covered with coastal sage scrub habitat.
The restored habitat in the Preserve is reaching maturity. More than 200 trees have been added to the Preserve and will begin to rise above the habitat during the next few years. The plantings also include many attractive flowering plants such as purple sage, bush sunflower and goldenbush. During the past season flocks of meadowlarks made the Preserve their home, swooping over the grasslands for the first time, and a family of endangered gnatcatchers nested in the habitat, raising three fledglings. A volunteer naturalist has been doing monthly bird and insect counts, finding many rare birds, beautiful butterflies and exquisite dragonflies.
A great number of additional improvements remain to be completed, per the Master Plan approved in 2000 after significant community input. Interpretive signage explaining the restoration efforts and the unique history of the site will be installed in early 2007, and the larger building will be converted into a nature center. Once the nature center project is complete, a demonstration garden will be installed around it. Construction of the parking lot should commence in late 2006.
The 102-acre White Point parcel owned by the City of Los Angeles was preserved as natural open space in December 1999. In May 2000, the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks and the 15th Council District formally dedicated the space as a nature preserve and in 2003, this scenic landscape was opened to the public for all to enjoy. The Land Conservancy currently has a 25-year management agreement with the City of Los Angeles to restore the coastal sage scrub, cactus scrub, and grasslands habitat, and implement the 
Master Plan [2.8MB].
Directions
From the south end of Western Avenue in San Pedro, turn left onto Paseo del Mar which runs parallel to the ocean. The White Point Nature Preserve is on the north side of Paseo del Mar between Western and Weymouth Avenues. Parking is available along Paseo del Mar. There are pedestrian entrances to the Preserve along Paseo del Mar, Weymouth Avenue, and Western Avenue.
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