By Kayla Samimi
Staff Writer
Since November, Leadership Manhattan Beach, a city-run program for local residents looking to better their community, has been working to replace the old telescopes on the Manhattan Beach pier with more modern ones.
Leadership Manhattan Beach is composed of 30 Manhattan Beach residents, five of which are Costa students. Each year, they vote on a new project to implement in order to improve the city. This year, Leadership Manhattan Beach chose Marymount junior Jillian Turkmany’s idea to replace the pier telescopes.
“I came up with the idea because I go to the pier all the time and have always thought of it as a central part of the city.” Turkmany said. “I know that the telescopes don’t always work and thought that this could be an area of improvement.”
The program includes two new regular telescopes on the pier along with one for disabled citizens. The handicap telescope will be positioned lower so that it will be wheelchair accessible. The cost of the telescopes will be $5,000.
“The new telescopes we are planning on adding are more weather-proof, much better quality and are an overall improvement that will help attract more people to the pier,” Leadership Manhattan Beach Facilitator Wende Nichols-Julien said.
The color of the telescopes will likely remain turquoise, while the cost of use will either stay at 25 cents per minute or be slightly raised, but Leadership Manhattan Beach has not made any final decisions.
“The main goal of these telescopes is to make the overall experience for visitors and residents more positive and enjoyable,” Leadership Manhattan Beach Project Manager George Apostol said. “Therefore, we want to make sure that they are as functional and well-planned out as possible.”
The telescopes have already received preliminary approval from the Manhattan Beach Parks and Recreation Program. For final approval, Leadership Manhattan Beach will present the idea to the city council in February.
“As an alumni of Leadership Manhattan Beach, I am excited to hear their idea, and I know that the telescopes will be an excellent addition to the iconic Manhattan Beach pier,” Manhattan Beach Mayor Wayne Powell said.
The group has been holding meetings twice a month to discuss various aspects of the project. With the help and approval of the city, Leadership Manhattan Beach is confident that it will have the telescopes approved and installed on the pier by May 2015.
“This group is made up of such hardworking people who are capable of working together,” Leadership Manhattan Beach member and senior Joey Ellis said.
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