[1] A popular destination for South Orange County residents, it features amenities such as a halfcourt basketball court, beach volleyball, and a seven-acre grassy Bluff Park, and offers opportunities for surfing, swimming, and fishing.

Due to a 1965 Grand Jury Report that highlighted the “overcrowding of our parks, beaches, and harbors, Orange County made an effort to acquire more public and recreational areas.

The Salt Creek area had always been a popular location for swimming and surfing, but was purchased by the Laguna Niguel Corporation, then later AVCO Community Developers, who set the land aside for private community development Public pressure rose in the late 1960s to “Save Salt Creek,” a movement that fought for public access and use of the beach.

Negotiations were ended on February 2, 1971, when AVCO's offer was accepted, promising to provide the county a portion of the property as a public beach.

The controversial project had many problems and delays and was not finished until 1976 though a partially completed facility was opened in 1972.