Mayor Kevin Faulconer officially reopened Mission Beach seawall and boardwalk Thursday, May 26 continuing his pledge to invest nearly half a billion dollars this year into rebuilding and improving neighborhoods.
The newly constructed walkway, splash wall and seawall took eight months and $4.9 million to complete. According to Faulconer, this is only the first step in a long-term project to rebuild Mission Beach.
“Projects like this are how we are rebuilding for a better future across the city,” Faulconer said.
On May 28 the Mission Beach boardwalk will turn 91 years old and District 2 Councilwoman Lorie Zapf said she could not think of a better birthday present than the completion of the project just in time for Memorial Day weekend.
“It is beautiful the way it turned out and we couldn’t be happier that it is officially complete for Memorial Day weekend and the busy summer season,” Zapf said.
According to Craig Gustafson, spokesman for the mayor, the walkway was designed to emulate the look and feel of the original boardwalk. Even the new energy efficient light posts are replicas from those on the original 1925 boardwalk. A major change to the walkways is that they no longer include a step down to the beach creating a fully flat surface with ADA access to the sand stone, something that was lacking in the previous boardwalk design.
Construction took roughly eight months and residents who lived through the live construction are thankful the contractors made their deadline.
“We want to thank the community because this took a village,” Mission Beach Precise Planning Board member Mary Saska said. “We know you stuck with us and for that we are grateful.”
Saska called the project a complete accomplishment for Mission Beach and the entire city.
“Back when I was a councilmember,” Faulconer said. “I vowed to stop doing emergency patches and once and for all fix this seawall. It is remarkable how it turned out but we are not stopping here.”
Faulconer plans to gather funding and complete a renovation of the remainder of the San Diego beaches.
