Boardwalk

Venice Beach, best known for its artists, street performers and “funky atmosphere,” is in west Los Angeles, just south of Santa Monica. It’s more than just the sand and surf — it’s the beach, the promenade that runs parallel to it (Ocean Front Walk) or “the boardwalk,” Muscle Beach, the tennis courts, the skate dancing plaza, the beach volleyball courts, the bike trail and the sidewalk vendors. Stores offering toe rings, jewelry, clothing, body piercings, tattoos and food can be found on the promenade.

Visitors and locals crowded the pavement along the shores of Balboa Island for a stroll through the neighborhood jam-packed with art from all over the region. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday the walk along South Bayfront filled with onlookers and potential buyers at the 2007 Balboa Island Art Walk. Nearly 100 artists participated in the event, now in its 12th year. Locals agree the event, although crowded, really gives the tiny island community a chance to show off its artsy side.

COSTA MESA Planning Commission adopts possible redevelopment zone The Planning Commission unanimously approved initial boundaries for a 434-acre redevelopment zone roughly bordered by 15th Street, Whittier Avenue and East 19th Street. Independent consultants established the preliminary boundaries after an initial study of the area. If the boundaries are approved by the Redevelopment Agency on Feb. 10, the consultants will embark on an in-depth, parcel-by-parcel assessment of the about 627 properties in the zone to see which ones are blighted and which need to be included to ensure a contiguous redevelopment.

June Casagrande A contract for as much as $400,000 approved by City Council members clears the way for a series of scientific studies and public workshops that are a first step toward building a boardwalk in a portion of the Back Bay. Council members on Tuesday unanimously approved a plan to hire Community Conservancy International to launch studies on whether a boardwalk and trail system in the Back Bay could protect...

Whether a boardwalk would preserve the ecologically sensitive habitat along the walking trails of the Upper Newport Bay has become the heated debate of the day. It's a good question, and already many have given their answers, even though the public has had little chance to observe the entire plan. To date, there is just not enough information to make a clear decision on this $4-million plan being proposed by county and city officials. Proponents of a man-made pathway up and down the bluffs say it would allow visitors to the Back Bay to enjoy its beauty and natural surroundings without destroying it by using unapproved foot paths that damage vegetation and habitat.

Back Bay construction an unnecessary expense No, we don't need nor want a boardwalk in the Back Bay. Four-million dollars or more for a walk that won't stop people from getting "off the path," won't stop people from letting their dogs run off-leash, won't save the Least Tern's nesting grounds (which are on sandy spits and gravel shores), will ruin the "Natural Look" of the Back Bay, will cost more money for upkeep year after year (look at the dilapidated wood walk by the little lake out of Big Canyon)

Regarding the question: Is a boardwalk along the Back Bay necessary? Answer: Absolutely not. An asphalt pathway for joggers, skaters and bikers, and a decomposed granite pathway for walkers and equestrians already exists at the proposed location. A two-mile raised platform would be as "overbuilt" and unnecessary as the galvanized pipe and wire "corrals" that currently enclose the lookout points. The regional park should be treated with more respect and less-heavy-handed solutions.

People read the Pilot, and then they volunteer The well-written article in the Daily Pilot about the Susan G. Komen Foundation here in our area was very informative and helpful. I volunteer there weekly, and several inquires came in as a result, thus providing help and information to women here in Orange County. But you could have mentioned that among the many sponsors of the Race for the Cure is the city of Newport Beach. The in-kind help of the city's police department and paramedics, as well as a team every called "CNB4ROZ," including many city staff members, is a wonderful help to the Komen Foundation.

Boardwalk on Back Bay a needed addition I am writing to voice my opinion about the work that is going on at Upper Newport Bay. The Newport Bay Naturalists and Friends is a group of dedicated volunteers that tries to educate the public about conservation, preservation and habitats at the Back Bay. Construction of a footbridge is a good thing because most of the public does not realize how human impact affects wildlife and...

Hi, I'm James Shattuck (seen in your picture on the front page of the Daily Pilot on Tuesday with my wife, Sue Hart). We have been walking the beautiful Back Bay for years, always staying on the path, not wanting to disturb the natural habitat, and enjoying the birds, wildlife and wild flowers. I think an answer to the problem of keeping people on the trails is educating them about the endangered plants, birds and animals, and how going off the path causes erosion, which causes a chain reaction which hurts all elements of the habitat.