With the “Deltopia” weekend around the corner, local officials are tackling new ways to keep the thousands of partygoers safe and alleviate the stress on first responders. The unsanctioned street festival is held in Isla Vista on the first weekend that UC Santa Barbara students return from spring break, which this year is the weekend of April 5-7.
The new initiatives include an I.V. Recovery Center created through a partnership between the nonprofit Good Samaritan and the Isla Vista Community Service District. In keeping with the slogan adopted by Isla Vista for its boisterous parties — “Keep it safe, keep it local” — the Recovery Center will provide a safe, judgment-free zones stocked with food and water for anyone who needs a break from the party, said Spencer Brandt, board president of the I.V. Community Service District (IVCSD). In addition to the Recovery Center, attendees will also have access to Comfort Stations offering first aid.
To attract Isla Vistans from the alcohol-fueled scene on Del Playa, the IVCSD will host its fourth annual Spring Festival with food vendors and local bands in the parks on Embarcadero del Mar.