Do You Want Trails and Paths for Family Fun? Tell the State!

If you'd like your family to enjoy such extraordinary access to the 600-acre Ballona Wetlands, you Need to tell our councilman! Send an e-mail TODAY to mike.bonin@lacity.org, including your name and city, and simply state you "support approval of the state's plan to restore Ballona to a full tidal wetland, including proposed public access." Councilman Bonin will represent our interests on the state's proposed restoration plan, found in the project's Draft Environmental Impact Report.

You need not read the 1242-page EIR to get a sense of the public access benefits this project will bring to our area. Just look at some of the representations below of the facilities and views your family will enjoy:

Ballona will be the second-largest public open space area in Los Angeles - second only to Griffith Park. The proposed restoration project will create about 29,000 linear feet (nearly 6 miles) of pedestrian-only trails, including approximately 2,000 linear feet of elevated boardwalks to allow visitors to walk near the wetlands and for closer wildlife views. The boardwalks, shown below, will be specially designed to accommodate disabled persons.

The view above is a new bike path that will replace the old southern concrete levee crown of Ballona Creek. Native plants will replace weeds, fences and trashy views. New foot bridges will connect northern and southern paths and trails, so you won't have to share the paths with car traffic. Below is a rendering of one of several main entrance points, with easy parking in Marina Del Rey and safe access for all people. Bring the kids and their lunch pails, and let them run around until they are worn out for their afternoon naps :)

Below is the trail at the Ballona Lagoon, in Venice/Marina Strand, built a few years ago. It's a good model for Ballona paths (pardon my crummy photo).

Malibu Lagoon, shown below, already thrives after its reconstruction just a few years ago. Notice the nice foot path below at Malibu with interpretive displays, another preview of Ballona trail ideas. Keep walking on it, and you arrive at world-famous Surfrider Beach!

Above is the “Bird Wing" outdoor classroom overlooking the San Dieguito Wetlands, just a couple hours south of L.A. in Del Mar. How nice would it be to have one of those at Ballona for school groups?

Below is a sitting/viewing area at Oxford Basin in Marina Del Rey, still growing in after reconstruction only a year ago. This formerly stagnant flood control basin now gives pedestrians and bicyclists a pleasant rest stop for watching resident birds. Note the Great Egret standing by the viewpoint across the basin in the first photo. Multiply these viewpoints by twenty to cover the future Ballona trails area.

Below is just one of several riverside trail-boardwalks at the San Dieguito Wetlands in Del Mar. Ballona will get these types of facilities, but only if you act now. Send an e-mail TODAY to mike.bonin@lacity.org, including your name and city, and simply state you "support approval of the state's plan to restore Ballona to a full tidal wetland, including proposed public access."

Below is a map diagram of the entire proposed trails plan for Ballona. Right-click on the image and "open in new tab" to see all the detail. Breathtaking! Enjoy your Ballona Wetlands!