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.