Company:
City of Newport Beach
Status:
Awarded
Awarded:
Community Improvement Project of the Year
Additional Files
Pre construction pictures and project simulations
Post construction picture over July 4th weekend
Additional Information

Pre and post construction exhibits and pictures

Balboa Boulevard Beautification

Project Location:

Balboa Boulevard between W. Coast Highway and 22nd Street in the City of Newport Beach, Orange County

Project Description:

Welcome to the beautiful new Balboa Peninsula entrance!  As residents and thousands of visitors pull off West Coast Highway and head toward the iconic peninsula, the wide roadway of Balboa Boulevard has blossomed into an inviting green promenade.  The design team worked with a citizen’s advisory committee to re-imagine the unattractive jumble of residential and commercial buildings that loomed over this “sea” of mostly concrete and asphalt.

Project Justification:

The Newport Beach Public Works Department provided the oversight and support to implement this challenging project on such a busy thoroughfare.  Obstacles involving the new medians and sidewalks, utilities and infrastructure, paving and right-of-way boundaries were all overcome to implement the remarkable beautification of Balboa Boulevard.  This street enhancement program, a two-mile stretch of street, was focused on an aggressive landscape planting scheme that would transform the aesthetically challenged street into a beautiful and pedestrian-friendly promenade.  Three million dollars of street redesign, median installations and red curb area tree planting pop-outs were all built with minimum traffic flow disruption.  The utilities and irrigation infrastructure relied on horizontal drilling under the many driveways and alley ways along the street.  The results of this engineering feat are beautiful to see.  An outstandingly beautiful green street has replaced an ugly paved thoroughfare.

Special Circumstances:

As previously mentioned, the project was created in conjunction with a citizen’s advisory panel consisting of the public residing in the area.  This demonstrated a close working relationship the City established with the community to deliver what the neighborhood envisioned and would take pride in.  It was unanimously the improvements to the overwhelming amounts of concrete and asphalt with lush landscaping to provide a welcoming feel, was needed.

The community’s visions were achieved, but not without obstacles.  The location of the project was within an established community where right-of-way to construct enhancement was extremely limited.  Furthermore, Balboa Boulevard has a high volume of pedestrian traffic due to its proximity to the beach.  The team introduced creative, yet sturdy, elements that would withstand frequent use without compromising parking and accessibility.  Some of these elements were achieved by installing slim vertical landscape elements, constructing planter bulb-outs, and building in previously striped-out right-of-way.  The results were exactly what the citizens wanted. 

Project Attachments:

The citizens of the neighborhood felt disconnected from the many beautiful public places that make Newport Beach a special place to live and visit.  The pedestrian experience along this concrete and asphalt thoroughfare was terrible.  The emphasis of the project was to enhance the pedestrian experience and to install interesting plants to create a beautiful tree-shaded boulevard with a subtle tropical, beach-oriented feel.  This plan resulted in neighborhood-defining signs and new “found” sidewalk edge plantings, hundreds of new street trees, decorative tree grates, and several new planted medians along the two miles leading to the Newport Beach Pier commercial area.  Attractive concrete planters and decorative core-ten steel panels adorned with flowering vines add a distinct look to the area.  These new amenities and design details make for a very pleasant drive, or stroll, down the promenade.  The improved neighborhood image has garnered praise from the media and the community.

Award Citation::

The Balboa Boulevard Revitalization project is a two-mile stretch of roadway, focused on an aggressive landscape planting scheme that would transform the aesthetically challenged street into a beautiful and pedestrian-friendly promenade.

Suggested Award Summary:

The Balboa Boulevard Revitalization Project is a two-mile stretch of roadway, focused on an aggressive landscape planting scheme that would transform the aesthetically challenged street into a beautiful and pedestrian-friendly promenade.  Three million dollars of street redesign, median installations and red curb area tree planting pop-outs were all built with a minimum of traffic flow disruption.  The utilities and water-efficient irrigation infrastructure relied on horizontal drilling under the many driveways and alley ways along the street.  The results of this engineering feat are stocked with water-friendly landscaping.  An outstandingly beautiful green street has replaced a worn asphalt thoroughfare.

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