Emergency Call Boxes OKd for Parks, Bike Paths

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has approved a pilot program to install emergency call boxes in parks and along bike paths in Marina del Rey.

If the pilot program is successful, it will be extended to other beach areas such as Venice, said Kerry Gottlieb, chief deputy director of the county Beaches and Harbors Department.

A still undetermined number of call boxes will be placed in Burton Chace Park and along Admiralty Way and the marina’s north jetty, officials said. Each will cost about $10,000 to buy and install, and will feature a single button that, when pushed, places a call directly to the Sheriff’s Department.

Fourth District Supervisor Don Knabe, who sponsored the call box motion, wanted visitors to unincorporated Marina del Rey to know where to turn in an emergency, said Knabe spokesman John Wallace.