Port of Los Angeles officials, City Councilman Joe Buscaino and Wilmington community leaders put shovels in the ground today to mark the start of construction on the $70.8 million Wilmington Waterfront Promenade.

“We have worked diligently over the years to create more open spaces and recreational areas for the residents of Wilmington,” said 15^th District Los Angeles City Councilman Buscaino. “It is most important that we are constantly creating buffers between the Wilmington community and heavy industry. This project will deliver a new waterfront that will be a game changer for Wilmington and the L.A. Waterfront.”

“Providing more direct public access to Wilmington’s historic waterfront has been a long-time vision for the Port of Los Angeles, but also for me personally,” said Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner Lucia Moreno-Linares. “As a Wilmington resident for more than 50 years, I am grateful to all who have played a role in keeping this project moving forward.”

“The Port’s ongoing commitment to financially support public-serving waterfront development is made possible through our Public Access Investment Plan,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “The process makes sure that our communities participate in prioritizing projects that are most important to them. I want to thank Councilman Buscaino, Commissioner Moreno-Linares and our entire Port team for persevering over many years to make today’s groundbreaking a reality for the Wilmington community.”

Designed by Sasaki, the Wilmington Waterfront Promenade Project involves both the realignment of Water Street parallel to the existing railroad tracks, and street improvements like new utilities, grading, paving, striping, lighting and landscaping. The project will feature a promenade, public pier and dock, public restroom with green roof, playground and parking lots.

The nine-acre promenade development will also include construction of a community park adjacent to Banning’s Landing Community Center, along with other improvements such as irrigation, signage and furnishings such as public seating, bike racks and drinking fountains.

The Port’s Wilmington Waterfront Development Program is funded through the Port of Los Angeles Public Access Investment Plan, put into place in 2015. The Plan allocates 10% of Port operating income annually to public access infrastructure projects. Additionally, the Port spends approximately $20 million per year maintaining, operating and programming the LA Waterfront. The Port has invested more than $600 million in public access projects since 2005, with an additional $400 million committed through 2025.

Construction on the Wilmington Waterfront Promenade is expected to be completed by 2023. The construction contract was awarded to Sully-Miller Contracting Co. of Brea, Calif.

The Port of Los Angeles remains open with all terminals operational during the COVID-19 pandemic. North America’s leading seaport by container volume and cargo value, the Port of Los Angeles facilitated $276 billion in trade during 2019. San Pedro Bay port complex operations and commerce facilitate one in nine jobs across the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura.

This press release was originally published by Port of Los Angeles on October 29, 2020.