Multi-million dollar renovations unveiled
By REAGAN WHEELER Special to the Daily Press
VENICE BEACH The bicyclists and joggers traversing up and down the beach path here Thursday morning turned to see what all the fuss was about. Unbeknownst to most, the fuss was all about them.
Dignitaries took to a podium in the parking lot north of Venice Boulevard to dedicate more than $6 million worth of improvements along the fabled beach, their voices booming out of a sound system over the boardwalk and amid beach-goers.
The to-do was acknowledgment of a recently completed $6.2 million refurbishment project that included new parking attendant structures in the Venice Boulevard parking lot, spiffed-up parking lots, new unisex bathrooms along the beach bike path and a new picnic area at Washington Boulevard. An existing gazebo was also removed at Washington Boulevard, while three permanent bike and skate rental concession buildings were added at Rose Avenue, Venice and Washington Boulevards.
The project was backed by Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors and the City of Los Angeles.
“Everybody has their fingerprints on this project,” began L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, alluding to the groups of constituents who approached him over the years about Venice Beach’s lack of amenities and aging appearance. “(The residents of Venice) deserve to have 21st Century property.” The county-run beach attracts more than 5.5 million visitors each year. The 3.2 miles of renovations along Ocean Front Walk — from Marina del Ray’s Yawl Street north to Rose Avenue in Venice — included projects that got underway in December 2005.
“It’s (Venice Beach) an economic engine,” said Yaroslavsky. “It has its pluses and minuses, but on a whole, other cities would love to have this.”
The improved features are intended to add to the pluses of Venice Beach. New unisex bathrooms have also been added along the bike path at Venice Boulevard. The path, which used to run within the parking lot, has been separated from the lot by a stone wall.
As part of a new drainage system installed along the beach, 3,000 drains now have screens to keep tons of debris from making their way onto the beach and into the water.
The improved appearance of the beach is the fruit of the labor by those that initially pushed for the project — citizens of Venice.
“The citizens that express concern are really how these projects are born,” said Los Angeles Councilman Bill Rosendahl, (11th District). “We thank the beach-goers and the businesses for expressing their concern.”
One such group voicing their opinions about the previously run-down condition of the beach and its public services was the Voice of the Canals. The Venice-based group focuses on fostering community betterment and environmental concerns regarding the canals in Venice.
“The beach is part of our neighborhood,” said Grace Godlin, a member of Voice of the Canals. “This has been such an improvement.”
Dede Audet, President of the Venice Neighborhood Council, was instrumental in bringing the community together for the projects.
“This (renovations) gives us the opportunity to extend the Venice flavor to the rest of the world,” Audet said.
Following the ceremony, Audet and Rosendahl played along with a couple of street performers’ acts, helping entertain those on hand in true Venice fashion.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 3, 2007. Read the original PDF.