As part of the Imjin Parkway Widening Project, four roundabouts were improved with custom artwork highlighting four key themes for the community — Nature, Recreation, Cultural Diversity, and Military History. The Imjin Artwork program was informed by various stakeholder and outreach engagements to highlight all the things people LOVE about the City of Marina. While thirty-two unique and custom art panels were hardly enough to capture every item on the list, our team of artists, researchers, and empaths had the deep honor and pleasure of highlighting the elements which embody the City of Marina specifically and unlike any other place on earth. The 1.7-mile project, from Imjin Road to Reservation Road, opened in 2026 with a community ribbon cutting. Our team of artists included Bianca Koenig, Joe Koenig, Jordan Quintero, and Tara Feld.
Client: City of Marina
Fabrication: Coastal Fabrication Company
Civil Engineering/Structural Engineering: Kimley Horn
General Contractor: Harris & Associates
Nature
Stewardship & Joy · Imjin Road
The City of Marina cares for a diverse and vibrant palette of natural environments. From rambling oak woodlands to rolling sand dunes and salt air of the sea. These varied environments support multiple plant communities and notable animal life, like chaparral and the smith’s blue butterfly. While stewardship is a clear passion of the community, this theme was also enhanced with opportunities for joy! Wild turkeys, hummingbirds, and coyotes are known to bring wonder and surprise in the local neighborhoods. Through past outreach events and surveys, community members shared their favorite memories – like spotting a whale as it breaches the ocean’s surface at sunset and watching the shorebirds along the beach. Marina is known as a “Snowy Plover City,” where these adorable birds make their home in the vulnerable sand dunes and the first egg of the season is a celebrated event. Marina is also home to Cal State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB), where their mascot – a sea otter and their natural kelp forest habitat are placed at the CSUMB entry point.
Recreation
Connection & Play · Marina Heights Drive
The City of Marina is serious about their programs and events for recreation, connection, and play! In addition, the City offers a unique combination of a coastal setting and local military history. The historic military uses resulted in large preserves of natural areas and key infrastructure like the Marina Equestrian Center. People of all ages and abilities can enjoy horseback riding, biking, and picnicking. Groups small and large can connect on a variety of trails or play in many local parks. Those with a wild sense of adventure, can fish for surf perch or paraglide from the top of the steep sand dunes. From Downtown Marina, the colorful sails of paragliders can be seen coasting across the sky. Recreation in Marina is a way of life here and a bridge between nature and community.
Cultural Diversity
Beauty & Interconnectedness · Abrams Drive
Cultural diversity blooms and takes root in Marina. “Roots” bring awareness to how people are deeply connected to their homeland, their current homes, and to one another. Marina is located on the current and ancestral lands of the Esselen and Ohlone/Costanoan peoples. It is also one of the most diverse cities in the country. Roots represent Native peoples, immigrant stories, and shared connections of us all. Flowers are used to express affection, gratitude, celebration, mourning, and everything in between. The flower collections were chosen to reflect the city’s people, languages spoken, and also a nod to the local, strawberry farming history. These flowers come from around the world and may have different meanings for different cultures. Also, the flow of the Imjin River in Korea joins a magnolia and hibiscus flower. Together, the flowers and roots demonstrate how cultural diversity can bloom and grow with beauty and interconnectedness.
Military History
Dignity & Respect · Preston Drive
During the active years of Fort Ord, from 1917 to 1994, key military units were stationed here and are honored through their unit heraldry, symbolizing their history, function, and achievements. These symbols are combined with the American flag. From its initial establishment during World War II and into Operation Desert Storm in the 1990’s, Fort Ord experienced a dramatic change in the technology of how wars were fought – from warhorses to helicopters. The 9th Cavalry Regiment was recognized as one of the Army’s four segregated African-American regiments, known as the Buffalo Soldiers and once stationed in Monterey. Fort Ord became a critical training center and home to a mixed ethnic and racial population of military migrants and their families. As a highly regarded military training center, the drill sergeant serves as an important symbolic figure. Both male and female drill sergeant hats are included. Many community members shared memories of historic army buildings and the Fort Ord sign that once crossed the road. Those local icons, a stoic salute, are brought to life once again with sincere dignity and respect.