HB Gets Ownership of MNT

On June 3, 2025, the Huntington Beach city council unanimously agreed to take full ownership of The Monarch Nature Trail.

The city negotiated with the owner, the Spreckels Sugar Company in Minnesota, to turn over the land to HB free of charge.

This is good news, as it will allow HB to improve the trail as public open space (and avoid any private development or uses!) No plans are in the works, but the city staff report notes that the land could be used for “public benefit [and] could include trails, public infrastructure, stormwater facilities, community green space, or sustainable urban agriculture.” Any future use is definitely something to keep an eye on, but the first step is having the city get legal ownership!

The MNT is on the site of the former U.S. Navy railroad right-of-way built around 1944, serving the Seal Beach Navy Weapons Station.

In April 2016, the federal government granted easement rights to Huntington Beach for the right-of-way, but actual ownership remained with the successor company to the old Anaheim sugar company, which had farmed sugar beets in the area.

For more details, check out the June 2025 HB city staff report at: https://huntingtonbeach.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7420505&GUID=584AA8DD-D4DA-4E9B-8B12-7D48F8DEF7E5&Options=&Search=