Southland Credit Union recently donated over $100,000 in computer equipment to Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM).
The donated workstations include more than 200 monitors, keyboards, hard drives and Windows 10 software licenses and will be installed in after school programs and Community Learning Hubs throughout the City’s community centers. The equipment will be used in after school, teen and senior programs, and in virtual learning through Long Beach Unified School District.
The workstation donation is part of the credit union’s ongoing effort to support the Long Beach community. “The credit union movement is committed to the philosophy of ‘people helping people’ and Southland is honored to have the opportunity to partner with the City of Long Beach in a way that will positively impact the community,” said Tom Lent, President and CEO of Southland Credit Union.
“Partners like Southland Credit Union provide valuable support for PRM programs and the Department’s ability to serve the community,” said Brent Dennis, Parks, Recreation & Marine and ACS Director Brent Dennis. I am excited that their donation will make a positive impact on local youth.”
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As we ‘march’ into the Spring of 2021, we pass the one-year milestone of the middle of March 2020, when COVID-19 brought about so many significant changes in the way we all live, work, recreate and try to stay connected. Parks, Recreation and Marine employees are eager and encouraged to see life transition into the “new normal”. The immediate shutdown of all recreation and senior centers, programs, events and most parks and beaches were a huge shock to our community. And yet human ingenuity, creativity, resiliency and patience has helped us all weather the COVID pandemic fairly well thus far. Our hearts still go out to those who have lost friends, family members and loved ones from this terrible virus.
As Long Beach advances in a positive direction through the State of California’s COVID health orders color tiers, we are embracing the contagious aspects of optimism for a future when we can gather together again our in our parks for neighborhood events, competitive sports, concerts and recreational programming. When I remember back through the early days of March last year before everything was shut down with the “stay in place” orders, I had no idea that 12 months later we would finally be looking at our safest and most reasonable ways of reopening facilities and programs.
Life goes on for our Parks, Recreation, Marine and Animal Care Services team and we have celebrated some monumental moments during the past month. The California Coastal Commission’s approval of the proposed Belmont Beach Aquatics Center and the Long Beach City Council approval of funding for the construction of Lincoln Park were certainly significant projects to celebrate. Seeing the Youth Strategic Plan and Animal Care Services Strategic Plan well received at Council and defining excellent visions and roadmaps for advancing important community initiatives in the years ahead were other examples of department pride and forward progress.
Our Parks and Recreation Commission welcomes Sharleen Higa, a teacher and Council District 5 resident, to round our that important appointed body as our 7th Commissioner. The department’s strategic plan survey is remaining open for community input through March 26th and can be easily accessed at http://longbeach.gov/park/business-operations/about-prm-strategic-plan/.
As we roll into the springtime weeks ahead, we will find comfort in the annual resurgence of green leaves on our trees and the return of songs of many migratory birds. The long-awaited pings of baseballs and softballs off bats on our youth and adult sports fields will be welcomed sounds of the season. My observations over the past year reassure me of the importance parks have proven to be to a community striving to stay healthy, happy and fit throughout the pandemic.
We have an amazing team of professionals who are dedicated to the highest standards of quality community service. I want to celebrate the countless contributions by our many team members who have stepped up to accept redeployment to other departments and provide another array of essential services.
Enjoy the beauty of Spring and Happy Women’s History Month!
Brent Dennis
Director, Long Beach Parks, Recreation & Marine and Animal Care Services
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Spring is just around the corner and El Dorado Nature Center staff are preparing for questions about injured or orphaned wildlife. Baby birds are common to find around our homes or in our neighborhoods and people are often unsure about what the proper steps are to care for it. It is important to recognize when birds are really in need of help.
According to the Founder of the Songbird Care and Education Center (SCEC) “Nestlings are birds that are naked, have pin feathers or down. They are dependent on their parents. Fledglings are feathered with short tails. They are learning to fly and should be left alone. Their parents are close by and will continue to support them.”
Three facts from SCEC about baby birds and their parents:
1. Birds only need to be rescued if they are injured, cat caught, icy cold, naked or abandoned.
2. Parent birds will search for their babies even after 24-48 hours of absence.
3. Parent birds will feed their babies after you have touched them.
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Over two years of planning and developing went into the adoption of the City’s first city-wide strategic plan for youth and emerging adults. The Long Beach Strategic Plan for Youth and Emerging Adults was approved by City Council on February 9. This effort was a result of the collaboration between staff from the Departments of Health and Human Services and Parks, Recreation and Marine and Animal Care Services, but was largely driven by the community engagement efforts and contribution of 16 youth ambassadors. The vision of the plan is to provide a framework over the next 3-5 years so that city services, youth serving agencies and institutions are aligned in their efforts to ensure that all youth and emerging adults in Long Beach are healthy, productive individuals with resources to develop their skills and talents to thrive and contribute to their communities.
The plan was a result of the $200,000 allocated by the Mayor and City Council as a result of the Invest in Youth Campaign, a coalition including the Building Health Communities, Long Beach Youth Committee and Khmer Girls in Action. The resources outlined in the plan are particularly important during COVID-19 times as youth are navigating economic, health and other issues, exacerbated by the pandemic.
Youth Ambassadors from every City Council District helped facilitate community engagement in the plan development process. They helped to organize 71 stakeholder interviews, 800 completed surveys and three livestreamed town halls with over 15,000 viewers.
The plan focuses on challenges facing local youth such as improving access to mental health services by strengthening community organizations that offer health and wellness services. Partnerships with the private sector and others will be established that can help expand access to economic and educational opportunities through technology and other resources. The plan calls for increased access to housing for youth exiting foster care or who are experiencing homelessness, and increased affordable housing and legal protections. Sustained reduced or no fare safe, accessible transportation options will be explored. The plan also outlines objectives for youth to have access to caring environments that allow them to connect, grow and develop. These environments include open spaces, City Teen Center programming, and creating alternatives to youth incarceration that promote healing and positive behavior.
An office of Youth Development will be established to lead the implementation of the plan including securing funds to support youth development, developing a data sharing and reporting structure, and identifying partnerships to improve youth outcomes. The Youth and Families Commission and other existing youth-led advisory and leadership groups will also be involved.
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The Uptown Planning Land Use and Neighborhood Strategy (UPLAN) is an effort to create an equitable vision, economic strategies, transportation improvements and updated zoning for North Long Beach.
Planning staff from the Department of Development Services received a grant to host a demonstration project through the development of a creative crosswalk and banner installation at Ramona Park to highlight the roll-out of the City’s COVID-19 emergency efforts and to gain citizen input to guide future improvement projects. The temporary crosswalk between the park and Indiana Avenue shortens the distance needed to cross the street and will help implement a larger scale open streets initiative along Artesia Blvd. The Open Streets Program supports COVID-19 recovery for residents and businesses, and temporarily transforms public areas into safe spaces for physically-distanced activity.
Colorful banners along streets in the area summarize the vision for UPLAN and ways for the community to get involved, including through a virtual open house. Throughout the demonstration project, the public will be engaged in specialized programming that was created in response to COVID-19 such as the Department’s Mobile Recess program that brings free recreation activities to neighborhoods. Additionally, the public will be able to participate in PRM’s Strategic Planning process to determine how PRM will prioritizes work, staffing, and investments over the next ten years.
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PRM will offer in-person day camps during the Long Beach Unified School District’s spring break, April 5 through 9. LBUSD students ages 5 to 12 will enjoy crafts, physical fitness, enrichment activities and more, all while following COVID-19 safety precautions. Registration for the camps is going on now at LBParks.org.
The camps will operate Monday through Friday, April 5 through 9. A $30 registration fee is required for campers attending from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and $50 for those attending from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Financial assistance is available on a first-come, first served basis.
The camps will take place at the following parks: Bayshore, Bixby, Chavez, College Estates, Colorado Lagoon, Coolidge, Drake, El Dorado West, Houghton, MacArthur, King, McBride, Orizaba, Pan American, Ramona, Scherer, Seaside, Silverado, Somerset, Stearns Champions, Veterans, Wardlow and Whaley.
Additional information is available by visiting LBParks.org or by calling 562.570.3150.
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Parks, Recreation and Marine will offer more sessions through April 2 for four important programs that safely engage youth, including a Mobile Recess Program, After School Camps, Community Learning Hubs and a Virtual After School Program.
The free Mobile Recess Program will be offered through April 2 for ages 5-14. Activities include physical fitness, and arts and crafts. Advance signups are required. Visit LBParks.org for locations and registration information.
In-Person After School Camps
For ages 5 -12 continues weekdays from 3-6 p.m. through April 2. Campers can enjoy recreation activities that follow COVID-19 safety guidelines. $10 per person, per week. Call 562.570.3150 to register and for financial assistance information.
Community Learning Hubs
PRM will offer free sessions through April 2 from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at McBride, Houghton Park, 6301 Orizaba Park, and Veterans Park, 101 E. 28th St. for distance learning and after-school activities for kindergarten to eighth grade Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) students.
Virtual After School Program
This free program for ages 5-14 will continue weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m. through April 2. The program offers engaging and fun activities plus academic enrichment activities to supplement the virtual learning environment offered by LBUSD.
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The Long Beach Rosie The Riveter Park And Interpretive Center at 4900 E. Conant Street was originally named Douglas Park and was renamed by the Long Beach City in 2006 in honor of the thousands of Long Beach women known as “Rosie the Riveters” who assembled bombers and cargo planes at the former Douglas Aircraft Plant during World War II. Former Fifth District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske formed the non-profit Long Beach Rosie the Riveter Foundation to raise money to add elements to the park to detail the events of World War II and honor the contributions of Long Beach “Rosies.” Support was also provided by County of Los Angeles Supervisor Don Knabe, and the non-profit Partners of Parks. The new park features were presented to the public on December 11, 2011 with more than 20 “Rosie the Riveters” and their families laying wreaths with flags of the six military branches and a flag for POW/MIA at the memorial wall.
The 3.28-acre park site has a rose-colored walking path with an etched timeline chronicling the history of Long Beach, Douglas Aircraft Company and the women who worked there, and the events of World War II. A “flight path” lit with solar-powered lights is etched in the pavers and follows the timeline of several planes assembled at the Douglas Aircraft plant. Visitors can experience the park by listening to a guided tour, 1940’s music and radio broadcasts via their own cell phones.
Interpretive signs attached to 1940’s era light poles have the themes of “Our Arsenal of Democracy,” “Long Beach 1941,” “Rosie the Riveter Comes to Long Beach,” “Bicycles, Airplanes and the War,” “Doing a Man Sized Job,” “Women Airforce Service Pilots,” “The War at Home,” “Working the Swing Shift,” “Our Compass Rose and Memorial” and “Going Home.”
A quiet garden and brick military memorial wall to the women and men who served in the military is a focal point and acknowledges that “All Gave Some and Some Gave All” during World War II in the military. A replica of a “compass rose” navigational aid that once decorated the lobby of the Roosevelt Naval Base in Long Beach is located at the front of the wall.
On Memorial Day on May 30, 2016, the non-profit organization Honoring Our Fallen, unveiled a Memorial Wall with the engraved names of the 8,289 members of the Armed Forces who have died since September 11, 2001. The wall adds to the significance of the park as a place for quiet reflection and appreciation of the sacrifices made by the honorees.
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Omar’s work can be seen all over the City from installing festoon lighting at East Village Arts Park to create ambient light, to saving the day for the Long Beach Little League by fixing a malfunctioning scoreboard in time for their 10 All Star Division tournament, to installing a generator at Orizaba Park for temporary power after the electrical panel was destroyed in a vehicle accident, to upgrading the court lighting at Silverado Park to helping to install and remove the Trees in the Bay that floated in our park lakes.
He recently answered a few questions so we could learn more about him:
What’s the last TV show you binge-watched?
The Crown.
What’s the best thing you’ve learned in your current position?
Respect electricity no matter the voltage.
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What’s your own advice that you always follow?
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
What’s one small thing that makes your day better?
Spending a short time with co-workers before the start of the workday.
Who inspires you?
My mother’s great attitude.
What is or would be a good nickname for you at work?
Ommizy (I’m easy to get along with).
What song always gets you onto the dance floor?
El Tucanazo (Los Tucanes de Tijuana).
If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
To cure people without cost.
Using one word, how would you describe your family?
Loving.
A genie gives you one wish. What is it? Eternal life.
Would you rather have a completely automated home or a self-driving car?
Self-driving car.
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Recently Cedric Banks, Marcos Torres, Paul Elliot, Robert Baxter and Charles Felder from Marine Maintenance joined forces to build a new Lifeguard equipment storage shed near the Pete Archer Rowing Center. The Lifeguards will use the shed to store their dive gear and other tools for their trade. This “built from scratch” project really shows off the talent and skills of the hard-working group. |
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Tom Metzger and Michael Mazzoni, Park Maintenance Plumbers got in the trenches at Scherer Park to replace and re-pipe a backflow. The two continuously tackle park capital improvement projects to minimize closures and expedite repairs. |
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