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:: OPPORTUNITIES :: ABOUT :: SAN
PEDRO LINKS |
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The Origin "Carry the torch!" Rally for the Run!"... John Papadakis' dream of people recreating on the Los Angeles Waterfront's west side is kept alive and symbolized by the fast becoming famous ION Bridge to Breakwater® where thousands come to run, walk, ride, roll and ride their skateboards in the unique, growing race and in their daily lives. In the late 1990s, Papadakis, longtime San Pedro and Peninsula activist, famous restauranteur and property owner, conceived of and tirelessly pushed for a continuous waterfront promenade (from the Vincent Thomas Bridge to the Federal Breakwater at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro), which the Port of Los Angeles eventually adopted. It is a vision shared among the original decision makers - and evangelized to the community - for recreation and job creation. |
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| "The waterfront
transformation is about economic opportunity by way of opening LA's
seaside soul in its birthplace, the Historic Waterfront. Public access
for the true owners of the Waterfront, the people of the State of
California," claims Papadakis, the USC Football great, grad and dad of
Taso and Petros - who also starred at USC. The "Grand Promenade" has taken on multiple names and descriptions, including Bridge to Breakwater, San Pedro Waterfront, Los Angeles Waterfront, even by some, the Papadakis Promenade. Event founder Dave Behar, Chief Executive Athlete of ION, and his ION San Pedro team, keep the Waterfront vision alive - via ION® Fest, featuring the ION® Bridge to Breakwater® events, which require a generous contribution of time and resources that benefit most area schools and multiple non-profit organizations - and ultimately, kids and family well-being. The primary event is held on LAbor Day Weekend. "It's a Celebration of LAbor, and a chance for the country, through participation in the events and throughout our ION Network, for people to "Sea. Real. Life.". We recreate on land and water - in this case, land alongside the LA Waterfront - inside Angels Gate - the "Mouth of the Western World..." The vision of putting people first on the Los Angeles Waterfront, originally presented by Papadakis and supported by former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan (who opened the door), then championed and led by then Mayor James Hahn (and sister, Councilwoman Janice Hahn), Harbor Commission Presidents John Wentworth (who got it approved), Nick Tonsich (who implemented the first phase), and Senator Alan Lowenthal, (who funded the first grant). The first phase of the billion dollar waterfront vision opened in 2005. Complete the journey with the ION® Bridge to the Breakwater Run, Walk, Ride and Roll into the future for the people of the Harbor Area and our state. Make the nation's greatest working Port - the greatest living Port as well... |
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2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Positive Ions, Inc. All rights reserved. ION, IONS, ionChannels (and respective sites), ionFest, ionAwards, Bridge to Breakwater®, BridgetoBreakwater.com, Six on the Beach, Ride to the Tide, Fiesta San Pedro, San Pedro Salsa Festival, Salsa Championchips, San Pedro Shrimp Festival, Shrimp Shindig, Sea. Real. Life., are all trade or service marks of Positive Ions, Inc. All other logos, wordmarks, sponsor reference etc. used under permission by their respective owners.  |