We know for a fact that L.A. County is a relatively young region compared to other parts of the world and even the country. But that doesn’t mean it lacks precious local relics. One of them is the last wooden boardwalk, located in the Peninsula neighborhood of Long Beach.
Spanning 9 feet wide and 3,600 feet long (about the length of 10 football fields) this structure is roughly 100 years old and might soon be replaced. Why? Due to a lack of maintenance and exposure to the sun, rain, and changing temperatures, the boardwalk has developed cracks and splinters, making it potentially dangerous to walk on.
At least, that’s the argument city officials present for their plan to replace it with a more durable and weather-resistant composite material, LAist explains. In the meantime, residents have voiced strong opposition. While they acknowledge the boardwalk’s deterioration, they argue it should be restored rather than replaced completely.
The online petition to save the boardwalk has gathered about 400 signatures so far, and the project could cost up to $2.5 million, but no funding has been secured yet, and there’s no set date for construction to begin.
Since the boardwalk sits along the shore, the city must obtain permits from the California Coastal Commission. Recently, Long Beach officials posted a large notice about a public hearing at one end of the boardwalk.