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Commission recommends immediate move of Surfers Walk of Fame plaques off pier deck; Schumacher Plaza identified as potential long‑term site
Summary
After consultants advised removing embedded bronze plaques from the pier deck because of structural and corrosion damage, the commission unanimously recommended moving plaques to stainless‑steel railing mounts as an immediate fix and asked stakeholders to pursue a privately funded permanent monument (stakeholders preferred a Greg Noll statue or Shoeacher Plaza solution).
The Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission voted unanimously on June 2 to recommend that city council remove the bronze plaques embedded in the Hermosa Beach pier deck and temporarily relocate recognition to stainless‑steel plaques mounted on the pier railing, while stakeholders and staff pursue a longer‑term, privately funded commemorative location.
Brian Susa, senior recreation supervisor, presented consultant findings from CIP 623 showing that embedded plaques have accelerated deck deterioration, many plaques have corroded, and several are missing. “The embedded plaques on the pier concrete deck are no longer advisable by the consultant,” Susa said, recommending removal and a short‑term railing installation using marine‑grade stainless steel to preserve visibility and allow repairs to the deck.
Stakeholders and former inductees spoke at length. Yanni Lang, a longtime organizer, acknowledged that a statue or plaza monument would be ideal but said a long permitting and fundraising timeline makes a short‑term solution necessary. “The railing isn’t my first choice, but it is a means to an end. It gets our inductees recognized immediately because those plaques are going away,” he said. Several stakeholders advocated for a Greg Noll memorial statue or a Shoeacher Plaza installation as a permanent home; they urged that the temporary railing solution not be allowed to foreclose a future monument.
Commissioners balanced the community’s preference for an enduring monument with the immediate need to stop pier deck damage and to provide recognition for recent inductees. The commission’s motion—approved 5‑0—recommended the railing solution as an immediate repair and Schumacher (Shoeacher) Plaza as an intended long‑term location to be refined with stakeholders and potential private fundraising.
Staff said plaques removed from the deck would be offered to inductees and, if unclaimed, archived with the Hermosa Beach Museum. Staff also noted that railing plaques would be less expensive and quicker to replace in the event of vandalism and that stainless‑steel plates can be treated with graffiti‑resistant coatings.
Next steps: The commission’s recommendation will go to city council on June 23. If council supports the interim railing plan, the city will begin removal of deck‑inserted plaques and work with the stakeholders to develop fundraising and design plans for a permanent commemorative installation.
