Point Vicente Rifle Range

Point Vicente Rifle Range. . Before becoming the City's Point Vicente Park, the United States Army used the 26-acre site as a rifle range for target practice. Known as Nike Site LA-55-Point Vicente Rifle Range. During the 1950s the site was developed with a 1000-foot long rifle range with bullet stops that paralleled the Pacific Ocean in the background. The rifle range was used for training primarily during the Cold War era. In 1974 the Department of Defence deactivated the rifle range and identified it as surplus property. In 1978 the site was subsequently transferred to Los Angeles County for recreational use. In 1979 the County leased the site to the City and the County eventually transferred ownership to the City in July 2004., Formation of a Park , In 1983, as part of the City's proposed park improvements, construction began on an educational and recreational facility known as the Point Vicente Interpretative Center (PVLC). The P.V.I.C. building was constructed on the former bullet stop and the excess earth was used as fill at various locations throughout the site. In July 1999, construction on an expansion of the PVIC building began. Between August 1999 and December 2002, lead associated with the bullets from the former rifle range was discovered and remediated from the soil. On July 15, 2006, the newly expanded PVLC building and park grounds were formally opened to the public. , , Point Vicente Today , These park grounds that once housed rifle training facilities for the military, are now a publicly dedicated park featuring exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the Peninsula, with a special emphasis on the marine life, including the Pacific gray whale. This site iso provides spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island, as well as whale watching opportunities to view the annual migration of the Pacific gray whale, from December through April. ,