Projects

The project concept involves development of a public pedestrian promenade, an entry plaza, streetscape and pedestrian enhancements, and street intersection improvements. The purpose of this project is to make improvements to the gateway area to the Port and to meet the following objectives:

~ enhance public access to the waterfront;
~ provide an attractive pedestrian-friendly corridor ; and
~ provide a system of public plazas and gathering spaces along the waterfront.

Cruise Ship Promenade

The first project to be completed, the Cruise Ship Promenade opened to a community celebration in December 2004. Facing the huge cruise ships that depart from the World Cruise Center in San Pedro, the Promenade's overlook decks, custom wave benches, flowing grasses, bocce courts and chess tables, deck chairs and beautiful ipe wood deck have all been well used and received as a benchmark for the projects still to come!

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Gateway Plaza

Creating a dramatic and formal entrance to San Pedro, as well as the cruise ship terminal and the Port, the Gateway Plaza project is well underway. A great arc of Canary Island palms will form a sweeping backdrop to a major water feature, gathering areas, and plantings. Near the intersection of Harbor Boulevard and Swinford Street, a new public plaza to connect the Red Car Station with the Cruise Ship Promenade and the Harbor Boulevard Parkway has just completed construction. The arc of palms has also been planted.

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Harbor Boulevard Parkway

The "greenbelt" public promenade is now constructed! The Parkway is adjacent to the easterly right-of-way of the existing railroad, immediately east of Harbor Boulevard between Swinford Street and Fifth Street. The promenade is an approximately 50-foot-wide corridor paralleling Harbor Boulevard, and includes landscaping and a paved pathway with a combination of decomposed gold colored granite, red lava rock gravel, stone paving, and concrete. Clusters of trees are placed in the different paved zones to define shade areas, and include magnolias and peppermint trees. Colorful seaside gardens meander alongside the paths. Granite seat walls and benches, litter receptacles, and bike racks are also located along the parkway.

Tying the Parkway together is the "story rope". A granite band winds along the path, punctuated by solid red granite benches and story "loops". In the granite band loops, stories of San Pedro's waterfront history are ingraved in the granite, and lit in the center with the project's signiture compass star.

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Currently, 3 Automated Public Toilets (APT's) are being planned for the Port of LA. One is to located near the Cruise ship promenade, another near the Gateway and the third midway along Harbor Boulevard Parkway. These freestanding, pre-fabricated facilities utilize modern technology to overcome many challenges associated with traditional public toilets by being self-cleaning, vandal resistant and safe. The design team is working with the fabricator to design a facility that meets the specific functions and aesthetics required for the project.

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