Complaints Afoot About Wood Chips on Nature Trail

Parks and Recreation officials are wondering what to do with wood chips after complaints from several residents that the chips used along the nature trail on the Manhattan Beach Parkway are a safety hazard.

The 1.7-mile parkway cuts through the middle of Valley Drive and is a popular path for joggers and walkers. But many have complained that the wood chips are unevenly spread and uncomfortable to walk on. Many residents want the city to replace the chips with another material.

Parks and Recreation Director Jim Wolfe said the parks commission is considering ways to spread the chips more evenly or replace them with dirt or decomposed granite. It is also considering grinding the chips to a smaller size.