‘Marina Oasis’ opens in Wilmington

WILMINGTON – Green grass, open space and trees sprouting fresh leaves have replaced the chain link fence and overgrown shrubs that used to dominate boaters viewpoints from Wilmington marinas. Now, liveaboards and marina tenants in the 11 Wilmington marinas can admire the newly completed Wilmington Marina Parkway, a 3-acre parcel that features picnic tables, benches and more than 200 trees. “It’s gorgeous,” said Donna Ethington, a Wilmington resident and president of the Wilmington Boat Owners Association. “I can’t believe we got it; I just love it.” The project was initially proposed by the Wilmington Boat Owners Association in 2009 when members asked the Port of Los Angeles to include a park as part of the project. The area was designated for $1.4 million funding from the China Shipping Aesthetic Mitigation fund for the landscape beautification improvements to mitigate against the dust blown from the nearby Anchorage Road Soil Storage Site.             “Wilmington marinas have been here for 60-70 years but there hasn’t really been a beatification project here,” Ethington said. Five years, several meetings, various board approvals and community open houses later, the boaters and Wilmington businesses have their open park. Complete with paved walkways, 3 acres of landscaping and irrigation, more than 2,500 shrubs...