Capitola reopens pier after wharf battered by storms

CAPITOLA, Calif. - The pier at the Capitola wharf will finally reopen on Wednesday to the public, after repairs following the last two years of winter storms.

The city is throwing a free party at 2 p.m. with food trucks, music and a beer garden to celebrate.

Last winter, rains brutally damaged the wharf, splitting the pier in half, which remained that way for more than a year.

The storms also wrecked restaurants and shops in the village; many of them closed for months.

The city launched the Capitola Wharf Enhancement Project, raising nearly $500,000.

The repairs include a wider wharf, new decks and railings. More than 150 piles were replaced, and high-tech bathrooms were installed. There's also an upgraded fish-cleaning station, better lighting and public art.