By Lookout Staff

March 17, 2015 -- Santa Monica City Council members were expected Tuesday night to hire an architectural firm to design a proposed new playground for the beach north of Santa Monica Pier.

Council members will likely approve, based on staff’s recommendation, hiring Patrick Tighe Architecture Inc. of Los Angeles for the North Beach Play Area project, the same firm that designed Airport Park in Santa Monica. Staff also recommended the design contract not exceed $146,896.

Last year, consultant Mia Lehrer and Associates completed a $25,000 North Beach Play Area Study “to identify play opportunities on the beach north of the Pier,” staff said.

Staff noted that since the Annenberg Community Beach House opened in 2009, visits to the north beach area have significantly increased. The number of cars using three nearby lots increased 62 percent from 2011 to 2014, staff said in a report.

For the North Beach Play Area Study, Lehrer and Associates measured the distance between the Beach House and the Pier -- 1.4 miles or a 28-minute walk -- and found three possible sites for a playground: Montana Avenue, California Avenue and Arizona Avenue, staff said.

Lehrer and Associations concluded that the Montana Avenue location was best suited for the playground project because of its proximity to restrooms, a parking lot and the Montana Avenue pedestrian bridge, staff said.

“An additional advantage at this site is that the playground may be located east of the bike path to avoid children and families having to cross the bike path to reach the playground,” staff said in a report. “Historically, this location has had play equipment; however, most play pieces have been removed due to age. Only two old swing sets remain.”

Installing a new playground would revitalize the area north beach area “for both visitors and north side residents who may access the playground via the pedestrian overpass from Palisades Park,” staff said.

If Council members approve the recommendation, initial designs could be submitted to the City by spring, with the design phase to be finalized by next spring.

Construction would begin in fall 2016, and the project would be scheduled for completion by spring 2017, staff said.