Breaking Ground
Promenade Hailed as First Step to Long Process
By Arthur R. Vinsel, Community News Reporter 

     Triumph and optimism rode the salty air  like  the  smell  of  cotton candy over a  smalltown carnival Friday, Feb. 20, as some 200 VIPs, visionaries, townsfolk and teenagers gathered to salute the start of San Pedro’s Grand Promenade, eight eventual miles of waterfront walkway.
     “The tidelands belong to the people,” said Mayor James Hahn.
     “It’s one small step this morning, but one lasting leap into our future,” added Councilwoman Janice Hahn.
     Billed a groundbreaking ceremony, it was more a wharf-busting party as an orange construction crane ripped up  a section of seawall on command from the honored coterie, including the Hahns and Harbor Commissioner Camilla Townsend Kocol, who called the event, “a wonder to behold,” and hailed it as “the culmination of a planning process that has involved hundreds of people.”
     The ceremony at Berth 93C—now Bon Voyage Plaza—marks the start of the first, $6 million, 800-foot-long segment of the Bridge to Breakwater project, after countless meetings and hearings in recent years. The plaza will embrace areas for public viewing of ship arrivals and departures,  with wind sculptures, banners, streamers and an upper deck promenade overlooking grassy areas.  A lower promenade will include chairs and benches, picnic tables and other amenities. A recreation deck will include a children’s play area with a nautical flair.
     A parade of dignitaries had moments at the microphone, including restaurateur John Papadakis, the eloquent Greek “godfather” of the Grand Promenade concept, who said, “A great city cannot be measured by its height or its breadth. A great city can only be measured by its depth—its cultural depth.”
     “What a great day for San Pedro. What a great day for L.A.,” exclaimed Councilwoman Hahn. Within months, she noted, locals and visitors will be able to stroll from the Lane Victory, a seagoing ship that’s also the U.S. Merchant Marine Memorial and Museum,  to the Los Angeles Maritime Museum at the foot of Sixth Street.  “We’re looking at a total renaissance of downtown San Pedro,” she exclaimed.
     The Hahns,  hailed for their foresight and leadership, introduced one of their own long-ago classmates at Lutheran High School, Sam Warneke,  now principal, as well as a  teacher at its campus in Torrance.  A San Pedro resident like the Hahns,  Warneke brought his American Government class to the groundbreaking at their invitation.
     “We have a lot of field trips,” said senior Elizabeth Dann, 17, a San Pedran who commutes to the small campus.
     “They like to keep us involved,” chimed in Lauren Jordan, 17, also a senior from San Pedro.  

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