Evelyn Frey hasn’t been down to the beach in five years. The last time the 96-year-old visited the Manhattan Beach shore, she struggled to walk back to The Strand. “I was just exhausted because the sand was so deep,” she said. A volleyball player who was in the middle of a game ran over to her and helped her trudge through the sand.
“That’s where I got the idea, I thought, ‘Well, how can I get down to the beach? There should be a beach walkway,’” she said.
Her five-year project came to an end last Tuesday when the Manhattan Beach City Council voted 3-1 to approve a $50,000 concrete beach walkway to be installed at 42nd Street, next to an ADA accessible ramp.
The proposed walkway would be about 70 feet long and 10 feet wide, extending about 150 feet from the high tide line, according to a city staff report. “Five years ago, the goal was not to get to the beachfront, the goal was to get close to the beachfront,” said Councilmember Richard Montgomery.
The County currently offers beach wheelchairs for people with limited mobility to get down to the beach. Would-be patrons, however, have told council members that lifeguards are often unaware of the service.
Even with the wheelchairs, council members thought residents could benefit from a beach walkway. “I think the reason we’re doing this is, you’re 70 feet closer, which is a big distance for those who want to get closer to the water,” said Mayor Nick Tell, prompting a quiet squeal from Frey, who sat in the audience.
Councilmember Amy Howorth proposed that the walkway be publicized on lifeguard towers, at the school district and within the Friendship Circle. “It’s one of those things that you don’t know how useful it’s going to be until it’s there. The fact that other people without accessibility issues are going to use it is only for our good,” she said. “More to the party.”
Councilmember David Lesser was the only dissenting vote. Councilmember Wayne Powell abstained, as he serves on the Los Angeles County Beach Commission.
Lesser didn’t think residents with limited mobility would make special trips to 42nd Street to use the concrete path. “I just think there’s so many more facilities in our community that could stand upgrading for access. Why don’t we start with the City Council chambers? If someone is disabled, how would they get down these stairs?” he said.
Resident Jon Chaykowski didn’t think the walkway was a wise use of funds, and noted that a 70-foot walkway wouldn’t get people with limited mobility to the water. “If you want to see the water you can use the pier,” he said.
Frey was pleased with the council’s vote, even though she doesn’t consider the north end a family beach. “But maybe it’ll become one,” she said. She added that families with strollers and coolers could also use the pathway.
“I can’t believe it. It’s been five years,” Frey said, adding that she had a cupboard full of articles and research about beach walkways. “It’s been quite a ride.”
