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Junkies for the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook stairs will be pleased to know that plans are underway to make the area more pedestrian-friendly, with construction slated to begin in May 2012, city officials said.

The mountain of stairs that looms 715 feet in the air and its looping one-mile hike is a well-known area attraction in Culver City, but frequent attendees said setbacks include a lack of parking and crosswalks near the entrance to the Overlook.

"Parking can be annoying, especially if you come during rush-hour," said Sarah Emerson, who comes to climb the stairs at least once a week. "I always wonder if I am going to get a ticket for jaywalking."

Said Jess Bravo, who comes to the stairs three times a week: "I think a crosswalk would be a good idea; cars are speeding down that curve and you don't see them."

The Overlook has also recently been the center of media attention—a driver crashed into a group of late-night cyclists in mid-June near the entrace. Officials say the late-night timing of the ride makes it unrelated to safety questions spurring the pedestrian improvements project, however.

The plan for the area, which includes a new parking lot, sidewalks on both sides of the street, and crosswalks with walk signals and flashing lights, has a price tag of $755,000—composed of a $570,000 grant from the Baldwin Hills Conservancy and matching funds from the city, said Hong Wang, the city engineer for the project. The target date of completion is December 2012.