New binoculars at Huntington Beach pier promise clearer views
Huntington Beach hopes to be able to offer a clearer view of the ocean after six new coin-operated, mounted binoculars are installed at the pier by the end of the month.
The process of removing the six older tower viewers, which had been operating since 2008, began in January.
The new binoculars will exceed the older models in the clearness of the optics but will still cost 50 cents like the old ones, said Kellee Fritzal, the city’s deputy director of economic development.
The City Council on Nov. 21 agreed to end the leasing agreement with Huntington Beach-based See Scopes, the operator since 2008, and enter into a new partnership with Fare Share Enterprises, which has tower viewers at the Santa Monica pier and the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, according to a city manager’s report.
Fritzal said the old viewers were not being maintained to the city’s satisfaction and See Scopes would not agree to install new ones.
The council chose the new collaboration because Fare Share offered a 50-50 split on the revenue and agreed to not charge the city for the installation, the report says.
Fritzal said the city is hoping to install another six binocular towers in the future.
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