The history and future of Laguna
Andy Wing
There have been many changes in Laguna since I first came here 51
years ago, including so many people it would take several books to
tell their stories. However, most of the major ones are listed below.
The Sawdust Festival and the College of Art were born, and a new
theater was built. The grounds at the Festival became cement; Irvine
Bowl, Heisler Park and Bluebird Park were improved, and Bark Park was
created. City Hall, the water company and the museum were remodeled.
Beach cottages were transformed into mini-mansions, including Arch
Beach Heights. Crystal Cove became a state park; the Greenbelt, Main
Beach and other parks were purchased, including Act V, the eucalyptus
grove and Aliso.
The Boat Canyon Shopping Center happened, as did the series of
markets on Cleo Street, now occupied by Ralph’s. Gene’s and Accord’s
Markets died, but Wild Oats reflected a taste of the New Age, and a
Trader Joe’s is in North Laguna. Many art galleries have come and
gone, leaving wonderful memories for the artists who participated in
them, as well as a cultural legacy.
The Glenneyre parking structure and Laguna Federal were built. The
bank, which is now Wells Fargo, is being used for art shows, as
founder Lorna Mills must have envisioned when it was originally
built. There was also the transformation of Laguna Canyon Highway
from an oak-lined country road to a major transportation corridor.
There were also improvements to the Aliso Waste Treatment facility
which will, hopefully, be adequate to prevent future ocean-polluting
spills, but will probably never be able to handle the contamination
of large rain runoff. Neighborhoods got specific plans; including
Thurston Park, which received a sewer and water lines as well, and I
was able finally to build the studio home of my dreams with the
correct zoning.
No one who experienced them will forget our disasters, such as the
fire that burned so many homes and the mudslides that destroyed
others, and the flooding of Downtown and the eucalyptus grove at
Milligan Drive, where homes were destroyed by the felled trees. These
are some of the things that come to mind since I’ve been here.
But there is also Main Beach and its long colorful history. There
was a jazz club for internationally known and local musicians. It was
known as the Blue Beat. In 1951, I set pins in the bowling alley; a
dance hall once existed, as well as numerous businesses and the old
beach cottages.
However, I end this piece with the question of the future: will
global warming so raise the oceans that Main Beach Park will have to
be fronted by a dike to protect it and Downtown from the rising
tides?
* ANDY WING is a Laguna Beach resident.
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