by Garth Meyer
It began with a recurring discussion about certain items left along the Esplanade.
“We all complained about it; there didn’t seem to be anything being done,” said Joan Irvine, co-founder of Keep The Esplanade Beautiful, now celebrating its 10th year. “If we’re not going to do anything about it, let’s stop talking about dog poop.”
Ultimately something was done, in 2013, as residents formed a non-profit organization and started
“First Saturday Sweeps,” clean-up crews of 12-18 people going from Miramar Park at the edge of Torrance to Knob Hill (1.6 miles).
Irvine worked outreach, and was referred to then-city Public Works employee Mike Witzansky, now the Redondo Beach city manager. Through these discussions, the city increased its power-washing of the Esplanade from monthly to weekly, during season.
The first “Keep the Esplanade Beautiful” sponsor was Mike Ward at Village Runner – which holds its annual Super Bowl 5k-10k and Fourth of July run along the route.
On Oct. 18, Keep the Esplanade Beautiful will hold its fourth annual mixer at H.T. Grill.
One of the group’s two yearly fundraisers, the other is the Avenue I Fourth of July celebration, with bands, a beer garden and the fireworks show from a barge on the water.
Next week’s mixer is free, open to all. “Keep the Esplanade Beautiful” raises money by a raffle and silent auction.
“We want to make some money, but we don’t want to make it so cost-prohibitive that people won’t come and learn more about what we are doing, ” said Irvine.
The group’s founders were John Perchulyn, Mike Kassel, Mary Sue Friese and Irvine.
“If I’d known how much work it was going to take, I probably wouldn’t have done it,” the latter said. ER
