Laguna Beach visitors and residents will soon be able to walk the Promenade on Forest

Lower Forest Avenue in Laguna Beach is shutting down for the summer for a pilot program called the Promenade on Forest, which will provide a space where patrons can eat and interact safely while allowing restaurants the space availability to operate at sustainable levels.

The city will be holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8 a.m. Monday.

The program is one of several recommendations approved by the City Council to be implemented in an economic recovery and business development plan to revitalize the city’s local economy as the coronavirus pandemic has caused the cancellation of at least one of Laguna Beach’s main summer festivals and ahead of a prospective $12-million loss in city revenue.

The Promenade on Forest will close off the stretch of Forest Avenue between Coast Highway and Glenneyre Street through Sept. 7.

“The Promenade on Forest pilot program seeks to create an environment that allows for public social interactions with family and friends from a physical distance, while allowing local businesses to reopen safely,” Laguna Beach Assistant City Manager Shohreh Dupuis said in a statement.

The goal of the program was to support local businesses by expanding customer seating and merchandise display areas on lower Forest Avenue, the city said.

Discussion on the pilot program grew contentious in recent meetings, with some residents in favor of the program while others pointed to issues of parking, restrooms and city spending. Some speakers also asked why lower Forest Avenue specifically should be closed when other restaurants in the city would be unable to access the same spaces because of their locations elsewhere.

It is estimated to cost $248,703.

The Promenade on Forest will operate between 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Maintenance staff will also be on-site to disinfect the area.

Members of the public can view a livestream of the ribbon-cutting ceremony at facebook.com/lagunabeachgov or attend in-person.

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