Beach upgrades need input from residents

It’s only appropriate that residents near Corona del Mar State

Beach have a say in what improvements Newport Beach officials make to

the beach. After all, they’re the ones who live in the popular

tourist and strolling area and have to deal with the facilities 365

days a year.

But just because residents have the option to speak their minds

doesn’t mean they will. The 1st Amendment means a lot around here,

though, and we believe residents would be remiss if they failed to

take advantage of this opportunity.

There’s about $1.17 million in the improvement pot and, most

likely, not every project will get a share of it, so residents must

urge city leaders to spend the funding on the beach’s most worthwhile

efforts.

The architects Newport Beach officials have hired, Robbins

Jorgensen Christopher Architect, have an idea what improvements are

needed as the city surveyed residents about a year ago. But that

survey will help the architects create a survey of their own.

The beach needs more restrooms, a lifeguard station, a new

concession building and more parking areas, the city survey found.

These are known needs for the beach. More may exist, but city

officials and the architects they’re working with need to hear about

them.

So please make it a point to get out there and have your

suggestions known. The only reason the city has much of this money is

the result of a settlement from the 1990 American Trader oil spill.

The area’s residents suffered through the spill and should get the

most out of its settlement.