L.A. River

One of the Rio Taxi boats floats past the colorful umbrellas at Casa Rio Restaurant along the riverwalk in San Antonio.

One of the Rio Taxi boats floats past the colorful umbrellas at Casa Rio Restaurant along the riverwalk in San Antonio.

(Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Aug. 11, 2015 9:48 AM PT

What will the ‘new’ L.A. River look like? Potential inspiration lies in Pittsburgh, San Antonio or Charleston

L.A. River - San Antonio

Federico Ng of San Antonio carries the Olympic torch along the riverwalk in San Antonio on Dec. 11, 2001, during the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Torch Relay.

(Eric Gay / Associated Press)

L.A. River - San Antonio

One of the Rio Taxi boats cruises on the San Antonio River along the riverwalk.

(Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

L.A. River - Columbus

The Chattahoochee River in Columbus, Ga.

(Danita Delimont / Getty Images / Gallo Images)

L.A. River - Columbus

The river walk next to the Chattahoochee River in Columbus, Ga.

(Coquinho / Getty Images/iStockphoto)

L.A. River - Pittsburgh

North Shore promenade by Heinz Field, Allegheny River, in Pittsburgh.

(Jeff Greenberg / Getty Images)

L.A. River - Pittsburgh

The Allegheny River in Pittsburgh.

(Keith Srakocic / Associated Press)

L.A. River - Oklahoma City

River with water taxis, Bricktown, Oklahoma City.

(Dennis Macdonald / Getty Images)

L.A. River - Charleston

Waterfront Park in Charleston, S.C.

(Aimin Tang / Getty Images)

L.A. River - Charleston

Battery Park, Charleston, S.C.

(Tetra Images / Getty Images/Tetra images RF)

L.A. River - Windsor

Detroit River skyline from Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

(Barry Winiker / Getty Images)

L.A. River - Windsor

The Detroit River in Windsor, Ontario.

(Hamish Blair / Getty Images for Red Bull)

L.A. River - Detroit

Dodge Fountain in Detroit.

(Wolfgang Kaehler / LightRocket via Getty Images)

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