HUNTINGTON BEACH : Design Approved for Pier Memorial

The City Council has approved a design for a memorial donor wall to be inscribed with the names of people donating more than $100 to the new pier.

The granite wall will be placed at the entrance to the new pier, which is scheduled to open July 17. The pier site is at the junction of Main Street and Pacific Coast Highway.

The old pier, built in 1914, was closed in 1988 after winter storms tore off part of the structure and severely weakened the remaining part. The old pier was razed in the fall of 1990, and construction of its pier began simultaneously.

The city launched a campaign to get as many private donors as possible for the new pier, which has cost about $11 million. All donors of $100 or more were promised that they would be permanently memorialized.

The donor wall will be 22 feet long and 39 inches high, said Ron Hagan, director of the Community Services Department. The wall of granite will be anchored in a concrete base and is expected to be in place by July 16, the day before the new pier opens.

Hagan said there are more than 1,000 names of donors to be inscribed on the memorial wall. “There are some blank spaces, and these are for names of people who donate later on because we’re still accepting donations.”

Monday is the deadline for people to donate and get their names on the donor wall before the pier opens, Hagan said. People wishing to donate can call City Hall at (714) 536-5511.