Santa Monica's “Complete Green Street” to Open Saturday

February 4, 2013 -- Santa Monica will celebrate the “greening” of Santa Monica's Ocean Park Boulevard from Nielson Way to Lincoln Boulevard Saturday.

Starting at 2 p.m. in front of SMASH/John Muir Schools, officials will mark the completion of more than a year of work on the Ocean Park Boulevard Complete Green Street Project. (“Santa Monica's Streets Are Paved with Green,”)

“Ride your bike to the celebration, bike valet will be available and there will be a bike ride down the green lanes,” officials said.

There will also be live jazz, bicycle demonstrations, bicycle-made ice cream and a ride with Santa Monica Spoke down the street's new green bike lanes to celebrate the completion of the $4 million project.

“The final 'Complete Green Street' concept, partly funded by Measure V, includes a range of improvements,” staff said.

Those improvements include wider sidewalks, clearly marked bike lanes and about 100 new trees planted in the median lanes and along the sides of the street.

Other improvements include:

• Parkway/storm water biofilter swales and infiltration areas, and a drip irrigation system.

• New marked crosswalks with enhanced overhead flashing beacons.

• Street furniture, trash and recycling cans, and 75 pedestrian-scaled light poles.

• Traffic signal improvements.

• Los Amigos Park storm drain improvements.

The event, which is co-sponsored by the Ocean Park Association (OPA), will feature Mayor Pro Tem Terry O'Day and Santa Monica Spoke representative Cynthia Rose as speakers. A representative of OPA will also speak.