Answers about Grand Prix concerns

As the Steering Committee chairman for the Laguna Beach Rotary

Grand Prix held on Sept. 28, I wish to thank everyone involved. It

was a magnificent community event, even though a number of merchants

were justified in their complaints about loss of business and others

unhappy about the gridlock on Coast Highway.

Some merchants claimed that they were not informed about the

event. In the beginning, there was a big survey effort of all the

merchants and residents in the area to be effected by the planned

street closures. The results are documented and a matter of public

record. From solicitation of local businesses for sponsorships,

program advertising, vender booth rentals and race “pre-ems,” to the

hanging of banners, posters and tow away notices on parking meters,

plus special hand-carried notices and more than $30,000 of print

media advertising all leading up to the event, it was believed that

people in the area affected were well-informed. We are open to

suggestions on how notice can be improved in the future.

Others faulted the event race street closures as the cause for the

ugly traffic jam on Coast Highway and the side streets south of

Broadway. However, there were three Pop Warner football and two

baseball games at the high school, which certainly contributed to the

problem. Also, according to the California Highway Patrol, there were

four accidents on the San Diego Freeway, three going north, between

the hours of 10 and 11 a.m. These were sure to have caused some

drivers to divert to the Coast Highway through Laguna Beach. Laguna

Beach doesn’t even need a special event to experience traffic

gridlock.

In the final analysis, with all the organizing effort by many and

the inconvenience of some, what was the event all about? The primary

purpose of the program was to promote bicycle safety and education

for children and their families. Helmets, bike safety lessons and

practical applications were provided to the children the week before,

which culminated in their participation in age-centered races in

conjunction with the Grand Prix on race day. The featured event was

an inspiring Pro / Am bicycle race on Sept. 28 to raise funds for

charitable purposes. This program is unique in the bicycle world, and

we would hope to build on it in the future.

We hope to work closely with the merchants to find ways to partner

in the event promotion and activity in the future. Also, timing,

location and improved communication with the community are all being

examined before going forward in the planning of the next Laguna

Beach Rotary Grand Prix.

I am confident that in the future, our Grand Prix will become a

very healthy event for the local business community and bring to our

city a new positive dimension with national, and perhaps

international distinction and prestige.

BILL PARISH

Laguna Beach Rotarian