Wilmington is set to get access to a new public recreational space this weekend — after decades of waiting
The Wilmington Waterfront Promenade, a $77.6 million project that has been under construction since November 2020, will open on Saturday, Feb. 3. The promenade is the centerpiece of the Port of Los Angeles’ larger plan to redevelop the Wilmington waterfront, which, in turn is part of an overall LA Waterfront redevelopment that also includes San Pedro.
POLA originally began considering upgrades to the Wilmington area with the approval of a feasibility study in 1987. Since then, two big developments — including the Banning Landing Recreation Center and the Wilmington Waterfront Park — have been completed.
But the Wilmington Waterfront Promenade, dubbed the “window on the waterfront,” is by far the biggest change to the area since the port initially embarked on the waterfront’s evolution back in the 80s.
The roughly 9-acre site, of which port officials offered a tour on Monday, Jan. 29, was once simply a parking lot and a couple of old buildings adjacent to the waterfront. But it has now been transformed into an inviting public park featuring a public landing dock, picnic area, playground and more. Port officials say they hope the promenade will allow Wilmington residents to connect with nature in a way they’ve been barred from for so many years.
For Cecilia Moreno, the port’s community relations director and a lifelong Wilmington resident, the unveiling of the Waterfront Promenade has been a long time coming.
“As a resident and somebody who was fighting the port for many years before I joined (them),” Moreno said, “to be able to celebrate and and have this delivered to us is just beautiful.”
Communities neighboring the Port of Los Angeles, for decades, have endured increased levels of pollution and been denied access to open, green spaces in their neighborhoods.
Besides the port’s operations, there are also several…
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