A city in Southern California is encountering criticism for accepting a $2 million grant aimed at exploring whether ten significant areas should be transformed into large parks or demolished altogether.
The Santa Monica City Council recently passed a resolution that allows officials to investigate ways to reconnect neighborhoods split by Highway 10, emphasizing the necessity to tackle “historic hazards” and “environmental hazards,” as reported by the Santa Monica Daily Press.
This study will primarily focus on the city’s historic Black Pico neighborhood and assess the highway’s effect on residents who were displaced during its construction.
However, some critics suggest that the initiative resembles a taxpayer-funded dream rather than a realistic transportation strategy.
Through this resolution, city officials will look into “tradeoffs between capping and alternatives such as freeway removal” and are encouraged to “reaffirm the city’s commitment to closing freeways,” inspired by municipalities that have rejuvenated their communities by eliminating such highways.
One idea being discussed is the creation of a large overpass spanning the 10 Freeway between 11th and 20th Streets, essentially crafting a park atop the road.
“It’s essentially a park above the highway,” mentioned Senior Park Planner Antonio Lopez to the City Council.
Lopez also admitted that the concept is quite theoretical, calling the study “basically…a design project without a design.”
City Council member Elise Raskin pointed out that the highway’s construction came at the expense of minority communities.
Back in the 1950s, it was “black and Latino families” who lost their homes to make way for the highway, according to Raskin.
Still, he worried that even the park idea may not address the deeper issues.
“In my view, capping the highway would only be a partial fix, leaving the fundamental problem unresolved,” Raskin remarked.
The Santa Monica City Council cleared a resolution to authorize a study that aims to reconnect communities along Highway 10.
“We need to keep our long-term goal in sight: removing freeways and replacing them with parks, boulevards, and other amenities for our neighborhoods,” Raskin stated.
The proposal has quickly sparked discontent online, with numerous residents labeling the study as a significant misuse of funds.
“Problems seem to be created out of thin air. I live nearby and have never noticed any impact or met anyone who mentioned it,” one resident stated on the report.
“The city council’s funding and salaries are a complete waste. We should focus on things that actually help the community, like reducing crime and lowering taxes,” added another individual.
“Nothing is really happening. The local government is simply wasting taxpayer dollars on pointless studies. Perhaps there’s a connection to someone’s family who runs the research company, funneling money into it,” another user commented on social media.
Council member Elise Raskin noted that it was “black and Latino families” whose homes were demolished for Highway 10’s construction.
“Residential neighborhoods are being disrupted, and reckless commuters are rerouting their cars off the freeway, driving carelessly,” another resident expressed.
One editorial writer summarized the sentiment of many in the community. “City Councilmember Elise Raskin has steered her team to explore the option of capping Highway 10 with parks and even eliminating it entirely,” expressed Charles Andrews.
“This is hard to believe. And Councilman Barry Snell supports it? Really?” he continued, urging residents not to repeat past voting mistakes in future elections.
This move follows an apology from the city in 2022, acknowledging that in the 1950s, they “targeted neighborhoods of color for marginalization.”
“Santa Monica’s African American community, flourishing in the Belmar Triangle, had their homes and businesses condemned to accommodate the new auditorium and high school expansion,” the statement reported.
Additionally, several buildings that were owned or occupied by African Americans were destroyed on-site.
For now, the proposal remains in the research phase, with final recommendations anticipated by July 2029, and grants available until 2030.
Yet, skeptics warn that removing or reducing the freeway near 20th Street would redirect much of the traffic heading toward Santa Monica and its beaches onto local roads, a scenario many residents are already growing frustrated about.
