A walk through Downtown

EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

The air is charged with excitement in Downtown Huntington Beach. The

biggest names in surfing, skateboarding and BMX are in our little

surf town showing off their amazing talents for accolades, prize

money and our enjoyment.

Even if you don’t normally follow the sport, you know you can go

Downtown this weekend and see the best of the best do their thing. I

just love it.

One of the best parts is when, on occasion, the city decides to

block off a large portion of Main Street for the thousands of

spectators to stroll and revel.

I first saw this two years ago and wondered: Why in the world was

Main Street not a pedestrian walk like Third Street Promenade in

Santa Monica, or Lincoln Boulevard in Miami’s South Beach? Both

examples are cool, hip, successful areas that tourists and locals

alike frequent.

Police make the call on blocking the street on the last day of the

U.S. Open of Surfing each year based on crowds and safety, but should

really make it a plan.

It wasn’t an out-of-control party scene. There weren’t the riots

our City Council is terrified will make a comeback. It just allowed

pedestrians to stroll down Main Street without having to pack onto

crowded sidewalks. It allowed people to stroll rather than wind

quickly through throng of people to ones destination.

Each year at this time, I think of that day and how much better I

liked Main Street closed to traffic. Huntington Beach is making a

mistake by not turning Main Street into a pedestrian boulevard.

The city has considered it, the last time in July 2001. City

officials, residents and business owners weighed the pros and cons.

It would eliminate the convenience of zipping Downtown, pulling

into one of those spots that are never open and running into a shop

to grab a coffee or Surf City T-shirt. But is that what city and

business owners really want Downtown anyway?

It would mean no cutting across Main Street at Walnut Avenue

anymore, because that is so easy and convenient now. Let’s face it,

traffic is already a nightmare. The only reason most people drive

down Main Street is to show off their monster truck or souped-up car.

Besides, once the Strand is built, Walnut will be closed off at

5th Street anyway.

Closing the street make the Downtown experience more pleasant.

Lincoln Boulevard and Third Street Promenade are date destinations.

No one over the age of 22 or so would take a date Downtown.

Parents could take their families Downtown with greater ease. A

stroller is a hindrance on a busy sidewalk. Not so on promenade.

Outdoor tables at restaurants become much more pleasant when

you’re not choking on exhaust.

I say close it off, just for a couple blocks, between Pacific

Coast Highway and Olive Avenue -- maybe up to Orange Avenue, but

leave Orange open.

Go Downtown on Sunday -- maybe they’ll block it off and you can

see how great it is.

* DANETTE GOULET is the city editor. She can be reached at (714)

965-7170 or by e-mail at danette.goulet@latimes.com.