Walk On Wilshire

a bike boulevard becomes a pandemic-Era plaza

West Wilshire Avenue was identified in Fullerton’s 2012 Bicycle Master Plan and District 4 Bikeways Strategy as a safe east‑west bicycle corridor. Using a $3.2‑million federal grant, the city replaced stop signs with roundabouts and created a low‑speed “bike boulevard” that allowed cyclists and cars to share the road at about 10–15 mph. By 2018 the improvements were complete and the Wilshire Bike Boulevard became a key link for people cycling into downtown.

When the COVID‑19 pandemic restrictions halted indoor dining, city staff closed a 200‑foot segment of West Wilshire Avenue between Harbor Boulevard and Malden Avenue. The closure diverted all vehicle and bicycle traffic so restaurants could set up tables in the roadway. On June 18, 2020 officials held a ribbon‑cutting ceremony for the Walk on Wilshire (WoW) pedestrian plaza, and the closure was expected to last through the end of the year

From temporary closure to parklet pilot

Residents appreciated having space to dine outdoors, but the closure raised safety and access concerns. Advocates for the Wilshire Bike Boulevard pointed out that closing the only safe east‑west bicycle route forced cyclists onto busier streets. A June 2022 opinion column in the Fullerton Observer highlighted the history of the bike boulevard and argued that using heavy orange barricades for the WoW plaza removed “a key regional link” for cyclists

To formalize the closure, the city council approved a parklet pilot program extending the pedestrian plaza through June 30 2024. Under the program, the city paid for signage and street markings, but participating restaurants had to construct and maintain parklet platforms and pay a lease fee. Council staff acknowledged that the closure sat on the federally funded bike boulevard. Three of the seven eligible businesses built parklets. According to surveys conducted by the grassroots Save Walk on Wilshire advocacy group, several other business owners planned to open parklets, but the uncertainty of WoW’s future prevented them from making the investment.

Walk on Wilshire won several awards and recognitions, including the American Public Works Association 2020 SoCal Best Project of the Year, as well as highlights in the OC Register’s Best of OC and LAist.

By December 2023, property owner and campaign donor Tony Bushala threatened to sue the city if the parklet program appeared permanent, arguing that bollards and parklets might keep the street closed indefinitely. He argued that his business tenants were losing money due to the pedestrianization of the area. The looming lawsuit, plus uncertainty about the program’s cost, fed political tension.

Political fights and uncertain extensions

As the June 30 2024 pilot end date approached, councilmembers debated whether to keep or close the plaza. At a July 16 meeting, a motion to extend the program for six months failed after Councilmember Bruce Whitaker, who had originally supported the plaza, voted against it. The council instead granted a 90‑day reprieve through September, leaving the Walk on Wilshire on “life support”.

With the fate of the Walk on Wilshire under threat, the grassroots Save Walk on Wilshire community organization formed, gathering nearly 2,000 petition signatures and about 70 letters of support from local businesses. They reported encountering overwhelming public support for the pedestrianization, and several businesses even noted increased sales because of WoW. Save WoW presented a 175-page document with the petition, letters of support, and other information at the October 15, 2024 City Council meeting to demonstrate community support for keeping the pedestrian plaza.

Councilmembers Shana Charles and Ahmad Zahra argued that the plaza fostered community and supported small businesses; Jung and Whitaker expressed concern about traffic impacts and called for a larger full‑block closure that staff advised would cost about $250 k and restrict emergency access. The council failed to agree on a permanent plan and left the WoW in place temporarily. Councilmember Charles asked Jung if he would support the pedestrian plaza if it was a full closure to which he answered affirmatively.

2025: closure and aftermath

With the temporary extension set to expire on January 31, on January 20, 2025, the council considered two proposals: a motion to make the pedestrian plaza permanent as a full road closure, and an alternative to reopen Wilshire Avenue to cars. During the meeting, more than 40 public speakers overwhelmingly supported keeping the WoW, but the council deadlocked 2‑2. Mayor Pro Tem Fred Jung and newly elected Councilmember Jamie Valencia voted to shut down Walk on Wilshire, while Shana Charles and Ahmad Zahra voted to keep the pedestrian plaza as-is. Councilmember Nick Dunlap recused himself due to a potential conflict of interest. Because the motion to keep the plaza lacked a majority, WoW was set to be shut down on January 31 and the street reopened to traffic. Mayor Jung, despite stating that he would support the pedestrian plaza for a full road closure, rejected the option following the 2024 election. Critics accused Jung and Valencia of ignoring popular support and noted that Valencia returned campaign donations from Tony Bushala under California’s Levine Act before voting

An observer who attended the October and January meetings described a “standing‑room only” crowd, with almost every public commenter urging the council to preserve the WoW plaza. The January tie vote left many residents upset and feeling that the process ignored community input. After the vehicular traffic resumed on Jan 31, some businesses reported that vehicle access improved sales, while other shop owners said foot traffic dropped and lamented the loss of the communal gathering space

In May 2025, The Hornet reported that the five‑year experiment was over: the Walk on Wilshire had opened during the pandemic, evolved into a parklet pilot and political flashpoint, and ultimately ended when the city reopened the street.

A July 2025 opinion column in the Fullerton Observer argued that Fullerton should “embrace its small businesses” by reviving the pedestrian plaza. The author noted that despite limited advertising, the WoW “was a hit” and drew visitors from across Orange County. He criticized Mayor Pro Tem Jung for saying in October 2024 that a full closure needed to be done right but then voting against the plan in January 2025, effectively killing the project

This shows that, even after the program ended, some residents still envision a pedestrian‑friendly downtown.