With long summer days and kids on school break, Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) began offering 10 weeks of free and low-cost recreation programs for families, teens and older adults on June 21. Community members can call or visit their neighborhood park for schedules and to register for activities.
Be S.A.F.E. (Summer Activities in a Friendly Environment) supports neighborhoods by extending free supervised hours at 11 select parks from 5 to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, through August 27. Families can enjoy activities including arts and crafts, outdoor games, sports and science activities and free movies at the parks listed below. Movies begin at dusk.
July 15 “Scoob”, Houghton Park, 6301 Myrtle Ave.
July 22 “Dora and the Lost City of Gold”
Drake Park, 951 Maine Ave.
July 29 “Tom and Jerry (2021)”
Bixby Park, 130 Cherry Ave.
August 5 “Ant Man and the Wasp”
Silverado Park, 1545 W. 31st Street
August 12 “Avengers Endgame”
Orizaba Park, 1435 Orizaba Ave.
August 19 “How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World”
Ramona Park, 3301 E. 65th St.
August 26 “Spiderman: Far From Home”
Admiral Kidd Park, 2125 Santa Fe Ave.
Teen Centers will offer limited programming activities for those ages 13 to 18, Monday through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. through August 27. Teens can enjoy new games, arts programming, Zumba classes, sports, and mentorship opportunities. Teens can call their preferred site for schedule information and to sign up for activities at the parks listed below.
- Cesar E. Chavez Park, 401 Golden Ave., 562.570.8890
- Freeman Community Center, 1205 Freeman Ave., 562.570,8890
- Houghton Park, 6301 Myrtle Ave., 562.570.1640
- Admiral Kidd Park, 2125 Santa Fe Ave., 562.570.1600
- McBride Park, 1550 Martin Luther King Ave.,562.570.1605
- Silverado Park, 1545 West 31st St., 562.570.1675
Senior Centers are offering staff-led exercise classes, games, crafts and other activities. The lunch program will continue in a “grab and go” format for the near future. Individuals can call their preferred site for more details, class schedules and registration.
- Cesar E. Chavez Park, 401 Golden Ave., 562.570.8890 – Open M-F, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- El Dorado Park West, 2800 Studebaker Road, 562.570.3225 – Open M-F, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- EXPO Center, 4321 Atlantic Ave., 562.570.1640 – Opening date to be determined
- Houghton Park, 6301 Myrtle Ave., 562.570.1640 – Open M-F, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Long Beach Senior Center, 1150 East 4th Street, 562.570.3500 – Open M-F, 8 a.m.to 5 p.m.
- McBride Park, 1550 Martin Luther King Ave., 562.570.1605 – Open M-F, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Silverado Park, 1545 West 31st Street, 562.570.1675 – Open M-F, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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Independence Day 2021 brought on an entirely new AND welcomed connotation this year as our community felt a longed-for sense of freedom from the stifling grips of COVID. Big Bang on the Bay has received rave reviews from a happy populace across Long Beach as the Fourth of July holiday weekend put a red, white, and blue exclamation mark on the citywide celebration.
Our Parks, Recreation, Marine and Animal Care Services team continued to make tremendous inroads towards reopening with all our facilities finally operational as of July 6. Movies in the Parks made their triumphant return to parks in all nine Districts and things are coming together nicely for the resumption of Municipal Band Concerts this summer.
With July being “Parks Make Life Better” month, our Community Recreation Services team has turned up the dial of FUN in all our senior and community centers. In symbolic alignment with this nationwide celebration, our Department’s Strategic Plan is set for presentation to the Mayor and City Council at their July 20th meeting in the Civic Chambers of City Hall. Our community has opportunity to review and offer comments on the strategic plan before it comes back to the Parks and Recreation Commission in late summer.
Springtime has brought with it the annual influx of kittens at Animal Care Services. Anyone interested in adopting or fostering one of these adorable furry friends or any of a number of canine candidates can schedule an appointment at ACS online at petadopt@longbeach.gov or 562.570.PETS. Come adopt a kitten while supplies last!
Parks and Beach maintenance teams have done a stellar job of keeping our public areas clean and welcoming as the busyness of summertime picks up. The holiday crush upon our restrooms, picnic areas, beach and recreational amenities was met with extra attention.
Park Planning and Partnerships has seen the important work of community engagement to develop vision plans for several parks met with good news of grant funding in support of capital improvements. Our essential partnership with Public Works to manage the capital improvement projects across the city is bringing scores of incredible park and beachfront development to fruition for the community to enjoy.
In closing, I also want to acknowledge our Business Operations Bureau team that managed to advance our department budget through the city process while also working diligently to recruit and hire over a hundred seasonal staff in advance of reopening and the restoration of park programs and events. This team continues to serve as our unsung heroes to keep our department engine humming along as we march through the fiscal year.
Parks really do make life better! I believe our entire community realized the value of parks and open spaces throughout the past year and a half of COVID. I share everyone’s excitement and thankfulness for this moment in time as we recreate our way into the new normal. Have a great and safe summer!
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Recently we have had some very naughty squirrels on our trails getting aggressive with our guests. I would blame the images of pretty princesses frolicking in the forest with happy little critters on their shoulders for the increase in people feeding them, but honestly who can resist that cute little face looking up at you begging, “Please give me a potato chip!” This is the reason why we ask that no food is brought onto our trails. Even a simple goldfish cracker dropped by a wandering toddler can be the start of a bigger problem. Staff and Volunteers are attempting to re-educate our squirrels, and we are asking for the public’s help. If you are approached by one of our furry residents please do not put your hand out to them. Stomp your feet, clap your hands and try to get them to go away. Your fingers will thank you for it. |
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Free Movies in the Park, sponsored by Signal Hill Petroleum and Partners of Parks, will take through August 27. Movies begin at dusk. Residents are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, picnic-style dinner and their family and friends.
The Croods A New Age:
July 16, Wardlow Park
Toy Story 4
July 19, Stearns Champions Park
July 21, Admiral Kidd Park
July 23, Martin Luther King Jr. Park
Sonic the Hedgehog
July 26, Signal Hill Park
July 28, MacArthur Park
July 30, Coolidge Park
Trolls World Tour
August 2, Seaside Park
August 4, DeForest Park
August 3, Somerset Park
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Dolitte
August 8, McBride Park
August 11, Heartwell Park
August 13, Scherer Park
August 14, Signal Hill Park
The Lion King
August 16, Cherry Park
August 18, College Estates Park
August 20, Houghton Park
Onward
August 23, Pan American Park
August 25, Drake Park
August 27, Whaley Park
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The City of Long Beach Parks, Recreation, and Marine Department (PRM) launched a Strategic Plan update in May of 2019 and the Draft Strategic Plan is now available for public comment.
This new Strategic Plan is an internally-focused document that covers a 10- year period, from 2021-2031, and will guide operational, staffing and budgeting decisions for the Department. The Strategic Plan is an essential tool for the Department to adapt as the city and the community’s needs continue to evolve.
“We have seen how parks and open spaces are essential to our community during the past 15 months,” said Brent Dennis, Parks, Recreation, and Marine Department Director. “After putting the development of the Plan on hold for 2020 to respond to the COVID pandemic, we are excited to share the Draft Plan with our community and move forward.”
The Draft Strategic Plan was developed through robust outreach and used a community outreach methodology in which resident’s and staff’s voices were centered. This multi-faceted process included engagement with over 2,000 participants through multiple rounds of community surveys, public workshops and events, stakeholder interviews, newsletters, emails, and meetings with PRM Department staff, key stakeholders, and the public in the City’s four languages (English, Spanish, Khmer, Tagalog).
The Strategic Plan was presented as a draft to the Parks and Recreation Commission on June 17, 2021, and will also be presented to the Long Beach City Council later this year. Follow us on social media with #ParksMakeLB.
Public comments will be incorporated into the final Draft Strategic Plan, which will be presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission for approval on August 19, 2021 and to the City Council for approval in September 2021 so that the Plan is ready to be implemented at the beginning of Fiscal Year 2022.
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The theme of Parks, Recreation and Marine’s (PRM) 2021 Summer Day Camps is “We Play Better Together. PRM staff are keeping kids active, engaged and healthy throughout the summer, while providing working parents with a great child care solution.
The weekly in-person camp sessions began June 21 and will run through August 27. Youth ages 5-12 can enjoy crafts, physical fitness, enrichment activities and more that follow COVID-19 safety guidelines. The fee is $30 for campers attending from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and $50 for those attending from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit LBParks.org for camp locations and to register. Parents can also call 562.570.3111 to schedule an in-person registration appointment.
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Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) kicked off the summer with a “Sunshine Seeker’s” scavenger hunt in June that challenged participants to find a small sun with a riddle to solve beside it in the front windows of the community centers at Heartwell, Coolidge, Admiral Kidd King and Recreation Parks. The Sunshine Seekers turned in their completed forms at Heartwell Park to claim prizes including art supplies, puzzles and small toys.
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Along the way, participants learned about free and low cost activities provided this summer by PRM for youth and families, including recreation classes, camps, free outdoor movies and the Be S.A.F.E. program. |
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Parks, Recreation and Marine will benefit from $14.78 million in state funding earmarked for park improvement projects.
A total of $8.5 million could fund MacArthur Park projects such as new sports fields, an improved community center lobby, a new perimeter walking path, fitness stations, public art installations and more playgrounds, goals outlined in the MacArthur Park Vision Plan approved by the Long Beach City Council in 2019.
El Dorado Park West projects may include softball and baseball fields with $1.2 million in allocated funds.
Bixby Park projects could include community center improvements, the addition of a splash pad, basketball court, updated exercise equipment and accessible water fountains with $850,000 in funds.
A three-mile walking path along the San Gabriel River from Carson Street South to Atherton Street is proposed with $4.23 million in funding. The path would provide a safe walking area for pedestrians who now are sharing the bike path.
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Park Maintenance Assistant William Richburg conducting a full service “Pit Stop” at EL Dorado West’s playground that included five tires, new bolts and hardware for the park’s vintage jeep. He opted not to add fuel. |
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Marine Maintenance staff recently completed a landscape improvement project in Basin 3 in Alamitos Bay. A total of nine beautiful fan palms were installed at Docks 20, 21 and 24. Come out for a stroll soon and enjoy the view. |
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The iconic Dolphin Fountain is a center showpiece for the City’s Rainbow Harbor area and a hub of the Grand Prix of Long Beach racetrack. On any given day area patrons are there snapping selfies and family pictures.
Marine Maintenance staff removed old flax from the planter’s inner circle and replanted them in the Pier Point Parking lot. They were replaced with white Teacup Roses to match the roses around the Public Restrooms next to Dock 2.
Staff removed overgrown grasses that were too tall for the fountain and replanted them in the Shoreline medians and at the Shoreline Marina Office. In their place Liriope Muscari, a clumping dark green plant with purple flowers was planted in the outer ring.
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The pattern of the top planter was changed to a sold inner ring of the Liriope Muscari surrounded by a two- foot ring of annual color. A sunburst pattern of yellow and orange Marigolds around the Dolphin Fountain was added to welcome the summer. Again, staff planted left-over annuals around our Park entrance signs, the Catalina Express sign, and the Shoreline Marina Office.
Finally new plants including Little John, wild garlic and Clarissa were added to the Shoreline medians from Pine Ave to Aquarium Way.
These efforts made a huge impact in changing the aesthetics of this area.
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Kelly Armstrong is the type of employee who coworkers “applaud and are happy to have on their team” Kelly has worked for PRM since 2004 and is always looking for ways to improve operations such as finding a cost-efficient way to restore buoy fenders at Pine Avenue Pier. Kelly’s skill and dedication led to his saving a man in the water at Rainbow Harbor Dock 7 by quickly getting a dock line and life ring to him and notifying the City’s Marine Patrol. He answered a few questions so we can know more about him:
What do you like to do in your free time?
Play sports with my sons and go on family trips.
What’s your biggest work achievement so far?
Working on a successful LA river storm debris system.
What’s your own advice that you always follow?
Work smarter not harder.
What’s one small thing that makes your day better?
Morning coffee.
Who inspires you?
My Wife.
What are you famous for at work?
Getting things done.
What song is always in your head when you’re working?
Country.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
Flying.
Using one word, how would you describe your family?
Adventurous.
Would you rather be the best player on a horrible team or the worst player on a great team? Just happy to be part of the team.
What is the name of your imaginary boat in the marina?
Sea Ya Later.
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