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| ::: COMMUNITY
OVERIEW |
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 Marina
Del Rey |
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As one of Southern California's most
prized recreational areas, Marina del Rey is the realization
of a dream that spans more than 100 years. What began
as the vision of a 19th century real estate speculator
has endured bankruptcy, unsympathetic government reports,
two world wars and mother nature, to become a popular
destination for day visitors, tourists, water sports
enthusiasts and business travelers.
It
all began in 1887 when real estate developer, M. C.
Wicks envisioned turning the Playa del Rey estuary into
a major commercial harbor. Working under the auspices
of the Santa Fe railroad, Wicks' Ballona Development
Co. invested $300,000 to develop the area but went bankrupt
three years later.
A visitor to the estuary in those days would have found
no sailors, but plenty of duck hunters. A quarter of
a century later, nothing much had changed. In 1916,
the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers reported that it was
impractical to develop the Playa del Rey inlet and basin
as a major harbor.
Marina proponents had another go at it in 1936, when
Congress authorized reconsideration of the previous
negative report, and a year later the Los Angeles County
Board of Supervisors ordered another study.
But fate had something else in store for the Marina,
which lost out to San Pedro in a competitive bid to
create Los Angeles Harbor. From this point on, development
of the Marina would focus on its evolution into a recreational
small craft harbor. |
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Now
the dream was open for the dream to become reality. After
World War II had put a temporary halt to planning, and
more than thirty years after their first report, the Corps
of Engineers submitted another study indicating the feasibility
of creating a pleasure craft harbor.
But there were still more obstacles to overcome. Construction
delays slowed early development, and when the Marina finally
opened for operation, severe damage from winter storms
forced the initiation of an emergency program to provide
protection from wave action.
The answer came in the form of an off-shore breakwater,
and the County responded by promptly appropriating the
cost and working with Congress to deliver matching funds.
The final key to the successful completion of the Marina
was the construction of the breakwater in January, 1965.
Formal dedication of Marina del Rey was held in April,
1965. It was the capstone of one man's dream that can
now be shared by all who visit this multi-faceted destination.
What does Marina del Rey offer today? More than 6,000
recreational boat slips, the highest density of restaurant
seating in a one-square-mile area, outside of New York
City, and boat launching ramps that provide access to
over 100,000 trailer-class boats annually.
Moreover, Marina del Rey is part of a vision that keeps
growing. Additions during the years include more than
1,900 feet of guest boat docks, 180 feet of public fishing
docks, Admiralty Park, view piers and a promenade. |
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