Plans to replace Los Angeles County’s last wooden boardwalk are on hold due to lack of funding, as residents and tourists try to salvage the nearly century-old walkway on the Long Beach Peninsula.
Built in the 1920s alongside the homes that reside on the Peninsula, the boardwalk is approximately 3,600 feet long, stretching from 55th to 69th Place at Seaside Way.
A public hearing notice was posted by the City of Long Beach in October 2025 at the 69th Place end of the boardwalk, informing residents about a potential plan to replace the historic wooden boardwalk with resistant composite materials.
However, this plan, which has an estimated cost of $2 million dollars, is currently on hold, according to the Long Beach Public Works and the office of District 3 Councilmember Kristina Duggan, who oversees the district where the Peninsula is located.
The wood of the barriers of the Peninsula Boardwalk is wearing out on Jan. 12, 2026, though plans to either replace or repair the boardwalk are on hold due to a lack of funding. (Jorge Hernandez | Signal Tribune)
The Peninsula Boardwalk shows its age with rusted nails at the barrier, on Jan. 12, 2026. (Jorge Hernandez | Signal Tribune)
“The Peninsula’s boardwalk project is currently unfunded and there will be opportunity for community feedback before any decisions are made,” said Councilmember Duggan in an email. Her office could not disclose the reason for the lack of funding, or where the funding was supposed to come from, they said.
The boardwalk has resisted high tides and storms since 1928, remaining standing thanks to the wooden barriers. The nearly century-old structure also includes plaques engraved with the names of notable residents who once lived on the Peninsula, including Larry Garcia, a retired LAPD officer from 1970 to 2002.
Today, the boardwalk still attracts plenty of visitors, including people walking their pets and enjoying the calming view of the waves, the tide barrier and lights from the nearby downtown area.
Reactions from residents and visitors were mixed when they heard about the potential changes to the boardwalk. Some residents support the replacement due to the worn barriers, loose screws and wood breaking down, while others oppose the change as it’s become a part of the neighborhood’s identity.
Residents and visitors walk along the Peninsula Boardwalk on Dec. 29, 2025. (Jorge Hernandez | Signal Tribune)
The barrier of the Peninsula Boardwalk is bending north towards the walkway on Dec. 29, 2025. The boardwalk was built in the 1920’s and has endured high tides and storms. (Jorge Hernandez | Signal Tribune)
“It’s a tragedy to get rid of something that is honestly pretty iconic to the area,” Long Beach resident Chris Hecker said. “I see signs that say no dogs on the beach, but a lot of the residents have dogs, and I feel like this is a good in between, that the dogs can get their walks without breaking any laws.”
A change.org petition was created last October to save the boardwalk and call for the Long Beach City Council to restore it using wooden materials. The petition has garnered 1,370 signatures as of Jan. 22. The creator of the petition did not respond for comments at the time of publication.
For now, the boardwalk remains an iconic part of local history, continuing to gather visitors and residents along the seaside, while its uncertain future still looms in the air.
Jorge HernandezPhotojournalist
Jorge B. Hernandez is an aspiring photojournalist residing in Long Beach since birth, maintaining a deep familiarity with the community and its people to this day. Hernandez uses his photography as his voice as he seeks his goal to become one of the best photographers in Long Beach. Hernandez loves traveling and exploring places that are interesting and new to him.
View more of Jorge’s work on his website: jorgebhernandez.com.
