New path to make it easier to walk to downtown Glendale

Construction of a downtown walking path that extends from south Brand Boulevard, past the entrance of the Museum of Neon Art, to the Glendale Central Library and Glendale Central Park is expected to be completed by November, city officials said.

The roughly 25-foot-wide pedestrian paseo is part of a $2.6-million city project that’s also bringing a revamped 90-stall parking lot — equipped with pay stations — located between Brand Boulevard and the park.

A new right-turn lane from Colorado Street onto Brand is also in the works.

Glendale City Council members approved the bundle of improvements at the end of last year with the intent of creating some sort of link among downtown attractions, said Public Works Director Roubik Golanian.

“It’s something we haven’t done before,” he said. “It’s going to be very inviting for pedestrians and it will encourage more walking and open up new entrances and connect civic-owned attractions to the Americana at Brand.”

The pedestrian paseo will start from Brand and Caruso Avenue and run along the southern edge of the Museum of Neon Art, which is expected to open later this year. The path’s width will allow people to meet up and interact, Golanian said.

Some of the artwork at the museum is expected to be displayed facing the walkway, he added.

The path will also be lined with trees, planters and seating.

The project, which began in April, is being constructed by Pimi Corp. and is on track to be completed by sometime in November, Golanian said. Part of the construction also entails moving some electrical conduits underground and relocating a sewer line.