This is one option for a pedistrian bridge.
Homes were sliding into Potrero Canyon, before the sides were remediated.
The walls of Potrero Canyon started sloughing early in the development of homes along the rim. This photo was taken in 1952.
Santa Monica Public Library Image Archives
Many people who listened to the Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting on October 23, 2025, wanted to renegotiate the idea that there should be a pedestrian crossing from the George Wolfberg Park to Will Rogers State Beach. Those people probably were not aware of the history with the California Coastal Commission, or had missed the numerous meetings that were held as far back as 2004.
They seem to reiterate a version what was said at a May 2006 meeting, ““We don’t want a park. We don’t need a park. It’s just going to make the traffic worse!” Some residents who live near the rim said they didn’t even want “a bike path” or “picnic tables. It’s just going to encourage crime.”
On the Pacific Palisades Community Council website, there are links to all of the stories done at the Palisadian-Post, going back to 2004 click here.
Additionally this editor has reported on Potrero since 2005: https://www.circlingthenews.com/potrero-canyon-h…edestrian-bridge and numerous additional stories can be found on CTN, by putting Potrero in the search box.
Here are the simple facts.
The sides of Potrero Canyon were falling in, including numerous homes, starting as early as the 1930s. The City acquired 33 landslide lots for $13 million, and starting in 1986, spent $17 million to try and remediate the Canyon to prevent other homes from falling in.
There was no money to complete the project, and the city owed $300,000 to the contractor for work already done and $850,000-$900,000 to repair two landslides in the canyon, one off De Pauw, the other off Alma Real.
If the lots could only be sold as they were remediated, it would provide money to finish the canyon.
The California Coastal Commission initially said “No,” that the entire park had to be completed before lots were sold.
An agreement between the City and the CCC resulted in a special account being set up, with money from sales going directly into finishing the park. George Wolfberg Park was finished despite opposition and dire predictions.
In order not to build bathrooms at the base of Potrero, it was pointed out that there were bathrooms available at the beach. It was also pointed out that there was parking, so a parking lot would not have to be built at the base of the canyon off PCH.
One of the Coastal Commission requirements was there had to be beach access.
Two ways of accessing the coast were floated. A lateral trail, which would go on a Caltrans easement from Wolfberg Park to Temescal Canyon Road, where people could safely cross the road at a light. Many did not think that people who reached the bottom of the Canyon would walk a quarter of a mile, but would rather dash across six lanes of traffic.
A 2016 MARRS feasibility study was done, and it concluded that a bridge was the most feasible and effective means of crossing PCH. Regarding the lateral trail, it does not provide immediate access to the coast, which was also reported in the MARRS (design engineering) report click here.
When it became apparent there would not be enough money left in the Potrero fund for a pedestrian bridge, the late George Wolfberg wrote to Senator Ben Allen and Assemblyman Richard Bloom, asking if the State could help provide funding.
The two legislators toured the site in early 2021 and were able to get $11 million in funding for the bridge.
Some wonder, if there is no easement from Caltrans, could the $1.15 million that U.S. House of Representative Ted Lieu gave for the trail in July 2022 be used towards the bridge.
At the Community Council Meeting, President Sue Kohl confirmed that she had spoke to Allen and the $11 million is allocated solely for the bridge. It cannot be used for another project.
Sylvia Dhimdis, who is the project manager for the bridge, presented her team and explained that this will be the first of several meetings for community input. “We are in the early stages of the project,” she said and noted that the group were also mindful of the Palisades Fire and the rebuild that is underway.
Zoltan Pali, who is the lead architect for the Potrero pedestrian bridge, showed several designs, but added “We’re at the very beginning of the process.” He also added that the final design will have to take into account the seismic fault that runs through the area.
Here is another proposed option for a bridge.
Here is the third option that was presented.
We don’t want a bridge! I don’t understand who this serves, other than homeless people entering the Palisades. None of the residents would use it. None of us want it.
It’s a bad idea, let’s forgo that money or put it to better uses.
Marc,
In order to fill the Canyon and stop more homes from sliding in, a deal was made–and now that the Canyon is “fixed” residents want to renege on the deal.
Some have said that it would provide an alternate evacuation route, if people can’t get out in their cars–something to consider.
Sue
The park has hours. Will there be a locked security gate for after hours? Thank you.
It’s too bad it is a bicycle AND pedestrian bridge,
I thought it was only to be a pedestrian bridge but somehow that was changed
Especially since scooters, electric bikes, Electric skateboards , shopping carts etc. are all now realities of Los Angeles.
They said it was being “explored,” but that no final determination had been made.
People are requesting it and we were told that direction would be taken back to the City.
Sue
All the residents bordering Protrero Canyon can’t even access the park via their lots because of the black fence the city put up. It’s harder then you think to get over it in case of an emergency evacuation. Nor can we walk out our yards into the canyon like we could before the park went in. I don’t know if this is true, but I read the black fence is being replaced with a new black fence (which makes no sense to me). I wonder what city/county fund that money is coming from? Thanks
Re-install the old crosswalk with crossing lights like at the Bowl.
Looking at the different lay-out option for the PCH Bridge, I hope they choose the shorter more direct route straight across PCH. Much less expensive, no ?
When I asked about clarification on parking, I was not given an answer, I was begged off. If the bridge is open to all of LA (which is what was stated) when people use the bridge to walk from the park to the beach, where do they park? The only place is at the rec center and in the neighborhoods. That is not acceptable. It will bring people to loiter at the rec center, and no one wants that. We want a safe place for our kids. That is not safe. And no one wants all of LA to come park in front of their home so they can walk to the beach. This is a bit insane that we are even discussing this project in light of our current situation…and this includes Gladstone’s too. We aren’t the same town anymore. Halt the projects.
I personally like 2 and 3 because of the views/viewing area. What is the difference in cost and completion time for the options?
PPTFH has done a really good job of trying to keep the homeless out of the Palisades. Sadly, the fire helped. This bridge truly increases our work load, and most of us haven’t even moved back yet. We don’t have volunteers that patrol Portreto Canyon. And if situations were to become dangerous, we’d be isolated. This is a bad idea for the Palisades and for outreach workers.
Caroline,
Having dragged three kids to the beach, with towels, sand boards, boogie boards, etc. Someone, including those families coming from the inland, would simply have to be crazy to park in the Rec Center and drag the family a mile on foot to avoid parking fees for Will Rogers State Beach.
Stacey,
Someone is filing a public records request to ask about the funding. The fence did not look like it needed to be replaced.
Sue