San Pedro’s welcome sign that will span across lower Sixth Street near Harbor Boulevard. (Rendering courtesy of the San Pedro PBID)
Young visitors learn about equipment as they interact with military personnel at L.A. Fleet Week on Sunday, May 25, 2025, in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Visitors turn out for LA Fleet Week on Saturday, May 24, 2025, in San Pedro. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka presents renderings of the proposed Outer Harbor Cruise Terminal during the 11th annual “State of the Port” address at Alta Sea in the Port of Los Angeles on Thursday January 22, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
West Harbor amphitheater planned for San Pedro waterfront. (Rendering Courtesy of West Harbor)
An LA Harbor fireboat displays its might during groundbreaking ceremonies for West Harbor, San Pedro’s new waterfront development, on Saturday, November 12, 2022.
(Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
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San Pedro’s welcome sign that will span across lower Sixth Street near Harbor Boulevard. (Rendering courtesy of the San Pedro PBID)
Community discussions have been launched on how to spruce up the currently weed-choked median along Harbor Boulevard in San Pedro as the town pushes to be ready for a visitor-rich summer.
“Nobody likes the way Harbor Boulevard looks as they come off the bridge,” said Ryan Blaney, CEO of the San Pedro Property Owners Business Improvement District.
Ideas are being shared for how to redo the narrow, dried-up strip, which is under Port of Los Angeles control, from Swinford to Seventh streets. There are some Mexican fan palms in the space that could be lighted, and other, more colorful plants are being weighed by neighborhood councils and other groups — or, perhaps, an attractive hardscape to cut down on maintenance costs.
The San Pedro Chamber of Commerce is advising on the project, which, in the long-term, are part of the preparations for the 2028 Summer Olympics. San Pedro, along with Long Beach, will host some of the sailing events.
Final approvals, meanwhile, are now also in hand — after several years of planning and effort — for the town’s lighted welcome sign on Sixth Street near Harbor Boulevard, with a groundbreaking tentatively set for this summer, Blaney said.
And overhead decorative lights — matching those that have crisscrossed over the core historic downtown district since 2013 — will also be installed along Harbor Boulevard this spring.
During a discussion this week, representatives of San Pedro’s three neighborhood councils talked about some of the challenges the Harbor Boulevard median design poses. The port will design it but is seeking input on those ideas.
Holding up the example of the problematic Gaffey Street median, restaurant owner Mona Sutton said priorities need to include something that will last and not pose maintenance challenges that can’t be sustained. The PBID has offered to do maintenance. But vegetation that is featured in many medians is difficult, costly and time-consuming to maintain and keep watered, and the strips can quickly wind up being more of an eyesore than a point of beautification.
Attractiveness, the right plants and longevity — along with including landscape professionals in the planning — need to be a central part of the process, Sutton said.
Elise Swanson, president and CEO of the San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, suggested an attractive hard-scape design featuring public art work and seasonal decor that could bypass high-maintenance plants as a potential option.
Eventually, the street’s new and refreshed median themes would extend to 22nd Street in time for the 2028 Olympics.
The additional Tivoli-styled lights, meanwhile, will soon be installed over the northern portion of Harbor Boulevard, city officials said.
And final approvals are also in hand for San Pedro’s long-awaited welcome sign, with a groundbreaking tentatively set for this summer.
The overhead, crisscrossed LED lights have become an identifying look for San Pedro’s downtown streets to the west of Harbor Boulevard. The hanging retro globes were chosen to blend with downtown San Pedro’s vintage lampposts.
Harbor Boulevard already serves as a visitor entryway to San Pedro and the Port of Los Angeles. But it will become more central in the months ahead as the new waterfront attraction, West Harbor, rolls out openings throughout the summer and plans for a new cruise terminal in the Outer Harbor get underway.
Following the upcoming L.A. Fleet Week celebration over Memorial Day weekend, additional big events are also expected to bring tens of thousands of visitors to the port and community throughout the summer months, including official World Cup-affiliated parties, an expanded July 4 fireworks show, and ongoing West Harbor promotions and tenant openings.