Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine’s fall after school programs began September 8 and feature many of the same activities that were offered in summer, including lower staff-to-camper ratios and enhanced safety protocols.

The program will be offered Monday–Friday from 3-6 p.m. through December 18. Youth can participate in fitness activities, games crafts, homework help and more. The cost is $10 per week, per participant. Scholarships are available. Call 562.570.3150 for more information.

The programs will be offered at El Dorado Park West, and Bixby, Chavez, College Estates, Coolidge, Drake, Houghton, MacArthur, M.L. King Jr., McBride, Orizaba, Pan American, Ramona, Seaside, Scherer, Silverado, Somerset, Stearns Champions, Veterans, Wardlow and Whaley Parks.
 
Registration is available online at lbparks.org or in person by making an appointment at 562.570.3150.

Safety protocols for After School Programs include limiting participation numbers each day camp, maintaining a 12:1 participant-to-staff ratio appropriate to the community center size, implementing physical distancing protocols including check-in and check-out, cleaning and sanitizing facilities and high touch areas frequently, and requiring face coverings for participants and staff.
At the 2019 California Coastal Commission’s Coastal Cleanup Day in Long Beach, over 1,200 volunteers removed over 2,300 pounds of trash in just three hours from the City’s coastline. This year because of COVID and restrictions on congregating, the Commission is encouraging residents to go out any day in September with an emphasis on Saturdays, and do self-guided cleanups of neighborhoods, parks or streets. Trash in the streets will become beach and ocean pollution once the rains begin. Cleaning neighborhoods and local natural areas provides a valuable service to the coast and our communities alike.

Volunteers are asked to download and use the Clean Swell data collection app at https://oceanconservancy.org/trash-free-seas/international-coastal-cleanup/cleanswell/ to record their finds and be counted towards the volunteer and trash totals, or to fill out and submit a paper data card, available in English and Spanish.

The event is emphasizing cleanups on the four Saturdays in September, as a way for neighbors to see one another conducting cleanups at the same time and bring a sense of community to the cleanup effort, which many people are missing during these difficult times. However, neighborhood cleanups taking place anytime throughout the month of September can count towards the overall cleanup. Remember to wear a face covering, participate only with members of your own household and that gatherings on the beaches are not allowed.

To find out how to join the effort, please visit www.coastalcleanupday.org.
With high temperatures over Labor Day weekend, Parks, Recreation and Marine activated air-conditioned cooling centers at five department facilities throughout the city. 

On Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6, from noon to 6 p.m. residents were able to enjoy a comfortable break from the heat at Admiral Kidd Park, El Dorado Park West, Houghton Park, Long Beach Senior Center and McBride Park.

The Centers operated in compliance with the City’s Safer at Home health orders to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Health screenings, temperature checks, physical distancing and face coverings were required for visitors. Cleaning and disinfecting practices are also being conducted at each of the cooling centers.
With 114 Uplands (outside of state Tidelands areas) parks totaling 2,108 acres and drought conditions a constant factor over the last several years, Parks, Recreation and Marine initiated the Citywide Irrigation Upgrade program in 2012 to address increasing water costs and overall conservation goals.

The Upgrade program initially provided funding in 2014 for system upgrades at Heartwell and Stearns Champions Parks, as well as a Citywide Central Controller installation in approximately 870 irrigated acres of Uplands Parks. Additional funding sources included a grant from the office of former Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe and rebates from SoCal WaterSmart, Southern California Metropolitan Water District’s regional rebate program. The total cost of the program is approximately $2.2 million.

Work began in 2016 to inventory each controller, assess the functionality of the Calsense system at each site, and develop a scope of work for each project site. Each park was fully inventoried by Park Maintenance Supervisor Raul Martinez and the Calsense Technical Specifier. The concise inventory included parts and equipment for systems including some that are 60+ years old.

The Scope of Work included new “smart” controllers, flow sensors, and master valves. Flow sensors measure and track water use in real time, which greatly enhances staff’s ability to program and manage park water allotments. Master valves control water flow from street meters. This feature will keep water from running in the streets when components are broken, thereby conserving water. In large parks, such as El Dorado Regional, multiple controllers communicate with each other to maximize program efficiency. Because of the new controller technology, the number of controllers was reduced citywide from over 190 to approximately 160.

Calsense is a participant in the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense program. Over 30 controllers were installed in 2016 -2017 because of a pilot project and specifications in new construction projects. The main RFP was awarded in 2019 and work began in September. The last phase of 39 controllers is scheduled to start in September 2020. At the completion of the project, more than 160 controllers will operate the water distribution system, with Raul Martinez overseeing the programming for the controllers at the PRM Tree Farm. Staff gardeners will access the park controllers in the field via tablets, make adjustments, locate broken components, and do irrigation system audits.
 
The City investment in these upgrades will result in water usage and weather data tracking, higher water-use efficiency, and diminished water loss. The installation of these “smart controllers”, allows for a new technology known as 2-wire to be added, which allows the PRM Grounds Maintenance team to begin converting older hydraulic operating systems to electric systems. These upgrades have been completed in-house at Cherry Park, Martin L. King Jr. Park, El Dorado Regional Park, and is projected to be done at Marina Vista Park.

The program was managed in house, including the rebate process. It is estimated that approximately $65,000 in rebates from the Metropolitan Water District will be received by the end of the project. 

The Citywide Irrigation Upgrade program is allowing Parks, Recreation and Marine to maximize staff and budget resources, greatly improve water conservation and keep parks and open space areas green and safe.
Staff at MacArthur Park worked with the Local Heart Foundation, X Diamond Supply Company, Grizzly clothing company and their co-owner Tito Rodriguez as “Hood Santa,” Parks, Recreation and Marine and the Neighborhood Leadership Program to host a Backpack Giveaway at Homeland Cultural Center at MacArthur Park on August 29.

This was a drive through event to ensure physical distancing.

Kids received free backpacks filled with school supplies.
Animal lover Pete Toulio knew what he wanted to do to celebrate his sixth birthday when the festivities were called off because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pete has always built in ways to give back at his parties.

With help from his mother Hallie Jane Culpepper, owner of Aerial Butterflies, an entertainment company that supplies aerialists, fire eaters, magicians and fortune tellers for special events, Pete started a fundraising campaign for Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) that raised $1,100 to support medical care and supplies for the animals. Pete and his mom created a Facebook birthday fundraiser page through Partners of Parks, to receive donations.

LBACS showed their appreciation to Pete by taking him on a private tour of the Long Beach Shelter, which is still closed to the public.
Two important park metrics that are used to determined park access are the number of park acres per 1,000 residents and a 10-minute walk to a park (parks within a half-mile of one’s home). In Long Beach, the average amount of park space citywide is 5.6 acres per 1,000 residents, but it is only .9 acres of parks per 1,000 in north Long Beach. Resolving this disparity led to the 2018 Uptown Open Space Vision Plan that studied opportunities for new and rehabilitated parks and open spaces in north Long Beach. This effort led to the creation of the DeForest Park Vision Plan (Plan), which provides guidance for future investments and improvements to create accessible open space and recreation amenities in DeForest Park that will enhance the overall park user experience.

The DeForest Park Vision Plan was produced in partnership with the Conservation Corps of Long Beach and Camp Fire Los Angeles, who conduct recreation programming and stewardship at the park; the DeForest Neighborhood Association, non-profit design firm City Fabrick and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine. The team of partners engaged neighbors and stakeholders in a series of workshops, design charrettes and digital engagement efforts capturing community feedback about their vision for the future of DeForest Park.

The team also conducted a site analysis to examine demographic and health conditions and how the park space was used, and conducted a park audit to evaluate the park’s physical condition. The audit findings indicated that DeForest Park has diverse options for recreational experiences with grassy areas, opportunities to stroll and enjoy nature, and enjoy the playground and tennis courts. Areas that were noted for improvement included activating dark or hidden areas, addressing infrastructure that needs maintenance including the Community Center, adding outdoor seating and enforcing traffic and illegal dumping laws. Public survey results provided input on how visitors access the park, their favorite amenities, and future priorities including enhancing the safety of the park and desired park upgrades.

All of this information was compiled with the community feedback and survey results, and were presented at a virtual design charette where participants evaluated several park design options.

Two conceptual designs were then ranked by survey participants and a final park concept was incorporated into the Vision Plan. The inclusive outreach process featured outreach materials in multiple languages, had in-person and virtual opportunities for participation, and used a variety of outreach tools from park walk audits, surveys and prioritization and voting activities. The cost of the Plan was $100,000 funded by a grant from the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy State Proposition 1. The DeForest Park Plan was presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission in July 2020 and will be presented to the City Council in the fall of 2020.
On August 18, Marine Maintenance team members Equipment Operator Garret Potter and Maintenance Assistant Olando Hall were conducting vessel operation training when they saw smoke rising from a boat near the Alamitos Bay Harbormaster’s dock. A 45-foot powerboat was identified to be afire and its passengers required evacuation. Garrett immediately radioed for Marine Safety response and both he and Olando maneuvered their vessel, a working barge nicknamed the “Grunt” into position to assist the endangered boaters.

The Grunt aligned to the stern of the distressed craft and Garrett and Olando assisted the two passengers onto their vessel. They steered clear of the smoke and delivered both people to the shore unharmed.

Marine Safety rescue boats arrested the flames and towed the craft to a safe mooring. The fire is suspected to have started in the engine’s electrical system. The PRM family is grateful to Garret and Orlando for their fast action and bravery.
A dip in the surf is just what this dog needs at Rosie’s Dog Beach to cool off during this hot September.
 
The four-acre off leash dog recreation area located between Granada and Roycroft Avenues, is open daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
 
The area has metered parking in the Bennett Avenue lot, trash cans and nearby restrooms. Some bags are provided in dispensers, but users are asked to bring their own bags from home.
“Rose Circle Park,” at Orizaba and 8th Street was donated by the Alamitos Land Company on June 10, 1910, for park use. The park radius is 90 feet and the intersecting streets flow around the park.

The .74-acre park was redesigned in 1955. It had four walks leading under old-fashioned arched rose trellises to the center of the park to a circular rose garden.