The Rincon Gateway, a property on the east edge of the Carpinteria Bluffs adjacent to the Rincon Bluffs Preserve, now officially belongs to the city of Carpinteria, officials announced this week.

The Land Trust of Santa Barbara County — with the financial support of the La Centra-Sumerlin Foundation — purchased the 2.48-acre property early last year for $3.9 million to preserve it as open space.

With Tuesday’s announcement, the Trust has officially transferred ownership of the parcel to the city.

Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services Jeanette Gant called the acquisition a ” tremendous achievement” for the city.

She thanked the Land Trust, La Centra-Sumerlin Foundation and advocacy group Citizens for the Carpinteria Bluffs for the help acquiring the parcel.

The citizens group had fought hard against the development of the Rincon Gateway. Most recently, a glamping trailer project had been proposed for the area in 2021. That project faced pushback from the community, and it was abandoned in 2023.

“This property represents the power of community collaboration and a shared commitment to protecting the natural beauty of our coastline,” Gant said. “…We look forward to creating opportunities for the public to enjoy this special place for generations to come.”

Executive Director of the Land Trust for Santa Barbara County Meredith Hendricks similarly praised the transfer, calling it “an exciting next step in the future” of the bluffs.

“By securing the property and transitioning it into city ownership, we have helped create an opportunity to expand protected coastal open space, strengthen connections across the bluffs, and thoughtfully welcome more people into this extraordinary landscape,” she said. “We look forward to seeing the city’s vision take shape.”

Ted Rhodes, former chair of the Citizens for the Carpinteria Bluffs, said last year that the group wants to “save all of the Carpinteria bluffs” and that the Rincon Bluffs acquisition was one step toward that goal.

City spokespeople said earlier this year they want to connect the area’s bluff parcels to complete the California Coastal Trail.

City and Land Trust officials said in a statement this week that improvements will include making the bluffs area more accessible “while preserving the sensitive coastal habitat that makes the property unique.”

Those improvements will include improved trail connections, overlooks and habitat protection measures, among others.