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Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine hosted a dedication ceremony on November 20 for the Dee Andrews Sports Complex at Chittick Field, naming the facility after the former Vice Mayor and Sixth District Councilman. Dee Andrews was a member of City Council for more than 13 years, including serving two years as Vice Mayor. During that time, he was a mentor to many and was passionate about serving his constituents. The Long Beach City Council approved the renaming on August 10, 2021, to recognize the important contributions to improving the lives of residents in Central Long Beach made possible by Mr. Andrews. Mr. Andrews, a public school teacher who was first elected to the Long Beach City Council in 2007 and served through 2020, grew up playing sports at Chittick Field — then known as Hamilton Bowl — and was a star football player at Poly High School, Long Beach City College and Cal State Long Beach.  He was instrumental in securing the funding for the remodeled Chittick Field. The $9.9 million, 19-acre complex was opened in 2014, featuring a new football field, three soccer fields and a 400-meter all-weather track. The project included new parking, lighting, restrooms, a bike path, a new pump station and storm water accommodations.

Happy Holidays to you All! The final month of each year finds us all consumed with fun festivities, decking the halls with colorful lights, and sending warm wishes to family and friends. For all of our Parks, Recreation, Marine and Animal Care Services team members, we celebrate a successful conclusion of the calendar year, reflecting on the positive impact we have made upon the community we serve through our programs, facilities and events. Many of our team members gathered together before Thanksgiving in Good Neighbor Park to remember and honor the lives of the four beloved co-workers who passed away during the pandemic. Sentiments were shared, tears were shed, and roses were laid at the base of the memorial tree that was planted in the park as a living tribute to their service and meaningful impacts they each had on our lives. Our parks, beaches, and marinas look beautiful and this is a tremendous credit to our dedicated and talented maintenance teams. While complex challenges continue to be present across our park system and waterfront areas, I am very proud of the commitment to quality and the high standards of service our maintenance teams champion! Essential tree trimming is underway and will be successfully completed before nesting season begins. Our park maintenance team is also very mindful of the severe drought conditions and utilizing our new technologies to improve our irrigation management. The illumination of nearly 70 pyramidal features as Trees on the Bay brightened the lives of countless people following Thanksgiving. Special thanks to our Marine Bureau for their team’s dedication to another quality presentation for the community’s enjoyment during the holiday season. Animal Care Services expanded the Open House offerings in addition to the successful pet adoption and fostering appointment system that has proven to work very well throughout the challenges of the COVID era. Scores of cats and dogs have found new loving homes. The Adoption Waggin’ continues to be present out in the community on select Saturdays to offer adoption opportunities for individuals and families seeking that special furry friend. The Community Recreation Services team is excited about the return of our Recreation Connections publication that will be released in January for the Spring season offerings of classes and a wide assortment of programs. The holiday season will also be celebrated in fun, safe ways throughout the city at centers and park sites as Mobile Rec and Learning Hubs are thankfully being extended into the new year! Our Department’s Employee Recognition Committee honored Marine Maintenance team member Matthew George as our October Employee of the Month. The committee also has planned a safe holiday department gathering outside in one of our beautiful parks as a welcomed return to a popular December tradition. I appreciate all the ERC’s efforts. Park Planning and Partnerships Bureau has been very busy with several community meetings for Lincoln Park programming, Davenport Park and Drake-Chavez Greenbelt outreach. Ongoing grant funding pursuits remain a top priority for the bureau. We are excited about the $12.4 million of State of California funding for park improvements at Bixby, El Dorado West, MacArthur, and Ramona parks! Business Operations has been managing the busyness of the new 2022 fiscal year while setting the planning stage for our FY/23 budget. Ongoing recruitments and essential position hiring are keeping the human resources team extremely busy also. Keeping our website updated and planning the production of many of our key publications for department marketing is another important service our Business Operations team keeps as a high priority. As December traditions remind us of the importance of friends, family, and community, I want to wish you a very safe and enjoyable holiday season. Enjoy the final hurrah of 2021 and I want to wish you a happy and healthy New Year in 2022!

Hundreds of youths and their families came out to the annual fishing derby at El Dorado East Regional Park on November 20. The event was co-sponsored by the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine, the Daniel Hernandez Youth Foundation and the California Department of Fish and Game. Kids were able to fish for free, get fishing tips and have opportunities to win prizes. Fishing poles and tackle were provided for youth under age 15. The Daniel Hernandez Youth Foundation uses fishing to build youth’s self-esteem and self-confidence, working to ensure that every child gets an opportunity to experience the thrill of sport fishing and a basic introduction in the marine sciences. Dan Hernandez is the host of “Sport Fishing with Dan Hernandez” on YouTube Live and founder of the Daniel Hernandez Youth Foundation, a 501(C) 3 non-profit organization that funds fishing programs for youth. For more information, please visit: www.danskids.org.

Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) has achieved its highest adoption rate ever, increasing by 60% since 2018, from 471 adoptions in the first three quarters of the calendar year to 783. The increase in adoptions is largely due to LBACS transitioning from walk-in adoptions to an appointment-based system, which allows those serious about adopting a pet to schedule a time to visit the facility and assigns a staff member or volunteer to exclusively assist them to ensure an informed adoption decision is made. The appointments have improved the quality of service patrons receive, reduces daily stress on the animals and nearly always results in adoption. LBACS moved to the appointment system in 2020 due to public health restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic. Appointments account for over 90 percent of the adoption rate increase. LBACS remains vigilant in following regional and national conversations and the direction of shelter operations both pre- and post-pandemic to ensure the most efficient and life-saving operations are implemented. While walk-ins have historically resulted in lower adoption rates due to their competitive, first-come, first-served nature, LBACS understands the value of allowing patrons to visit without an appointment and is working to establish regularly scheduled open house hours where no appointment is needed. Adoption appointments can be made Wednesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. To schedule an appointment to adopt or foster a pet, people can email PetAdopt@longbeach.gov or call 562.570.7387. More information about LBACS is available at longbeach.gov/acs.

New Park Facilities   The El Dorado Park West Multi-Purpose Sports Field opened on October 2. It is the largest sports field in the City, and features synthetic turf and renewable infill material and is designed to save water and expand field access. The upgraded Measure A-funded Cherry Park playground opened to the public on July 24 with a revitalized area and new playground equipment. A new playground and improved amenities were added at the El Dorado East Regional Park Golden Grove event area.

Facility Renovations  The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Statue “I Have a Dream” at Martin Luther King Jr. Park was restored with a new patina, plaques around the base and the granite surfacing. Park Maintenance staff completed renovations of freestanding restrooms throughout the city including installing new epoxy flooring, plumbing fixtures, partitions, and lighting fixtures.  PRM Maintenance made improvements at Gayle Carter Dog Park including fixing drainage issues; new paint, dead tree removal and overall site clean-up. The iconic Dolphin Fountain in Rainbow Harbor area was refurbished by removing old organic growth and installing new colorful drought tolerant plants.

Financial Matters   Southland Credit Union donated over $100,000 in computer equipment and Windows 10 software licenses to be installed in after school programs and Community Learning Hubs throughout the City’s community centers. The State of California will fund park improvements including $8.5 million for the MacArthur Park sports field and community center, $1.5 million for a playground at Ramona Park and $850,000 for Bixby Park improvements.

Supporting a Healthy Community  For the 42nd year in a row, PRM offered the United States Department of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program to provide free, nutritious meals to Long Beach youth throughout the summer months. A total of 47,986 meals were served at 34 sites. Senior nutrition programs “grab and go” format provided more than 90,000 nutritious meals to seven locations access in a safe manner during the pandemic.

Thinking Outside the Box  LBUSD youth participated in Distance Learning at Community Learning Hubs at Houghton, McBride, Orizaba and Veterans Parks. Staff provided academic support and stable wi-fi and devices to finish the 2021 school year. The free Mobile Recess Program was offered throughout the year in 11 neighborhoods. PRM staff drove trucks loaded with supplies and equipment to provide activities for youth ages 5 through 14.

Sustainability  Community groups work with CD 6, CD 7 and the Mayor’s Office to provide one-time funding to plant 25 new cedar trees and install new electrical systems for the Daisy Lane Parade and park decorations. The Golden Shore Reserve Wetland Warriors, El Dorado Nature Center Saturday Stewards and Regional Park Clean-ups resumed. Over 560 volunteers cleared 1,800 pounds of trash at Coastal Cleanup Day in September.  PRM celebrated Arbor Day in April with tree planting events at Chavez, Drake, Seaside, Bixby, Recreation, Heartwell, Veterans and Pan American Park and the DeForest Wetlands. Queensway Bay and Beach Maintenance teams utilized an “In Water Storm Debris Management System” to trap debris from the Los Angeles River during storms.

Recreation Returned and Re-imagined  PRM welcomed Kurt Curtis, son of the late Long Beach Municipal Band conductor Larry Curtis as the Band’s new conductor. A two-week summer season took place from August 17-27 at five area parks. In-person senior programs resumed at the Long Beach Senior center and six satellite centers in July 2021 after being shut down since March 2020. PRM offered full day, in person summer day camps from June 21 to August 27 at 23 parks. The free Movies in the Park program sponsored by Signal Hill Petroleum and Partners of Parks, took place from June 21 through August 27. The Be S.A.F.E. (Summer Activities in a Friendly Environment) extended free supervised recreation hours at 11 parks from 5 to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday, June 21 through August 27.

Honoring Long Beach’s Best  The Houghton Park Community Center was renamed the Doris Topsy-Elvord Community Center to recognize the contributions of the community leader and former Vice Mayor. PRM renamed the South Street Parkway “Pressburg Parkway” to recognize Mr. Dan Pressburg’s contributions to the Uptown and DeForest Park Neighborhood community. The Bixby Park Dog Park as renamed Dr. Myrna “Mickey Donahoe Dog Park,” to honor the founder of Friends of Bixby Dog Park and advocate for a community gathering places. The Dee Andrews Sports Complex at Chittick Field was dedicated to the former Vice Mayor on November 20 in recognition of his positive impact on the lives of local young people. The Conductor Larry Curtis Concert Park was dedicated at Marine Stadium in tribute to the late Larry Curtis, Municipal Band Conductor for more than 27 years.

Animal Care Services  Animal Care Services was recognized as a No-Kill animal shelter by Best Friends Animal Society, their Compassion Saves model has no healthy or treatable animals euthanized. LBACS achieved its highest adoption rate ever, despite COVID-19 modifications most services being delivered by to appointment. The rate has risen by 60 percent in the last three years, from 471 adoptions in 2018 to 783 in 2021.

Planning for the Future  The Hamilton Loop Vision Plan was adopted in January to guide the development of walking paths, fitness and play equipment, dog runs, and garden space along the 91 Freeway. In August, the Parks and Recreation Commission approved a recommendation to the City Council to adopt the Department Strategic Plan to guide improvements and programs for the next ten years. The Long Beach Strategic Plan for Youth and Emerging Adults was approved by City Council and outlines how city services, youth serving agencies and institutions can align to help youth develop skills to thrive in their communities. The Long Beach City Council approved a Strategic Plan for LBACS in March that will guide their work over the next three years to save more animal lives and implement operational changes to support their vision and mission. A groundbreaking was held in September for the DeForest Park Environmental Education Center, which will serve as a satellite office for the Conservation Corps of Long Beach.

This month residents and visitors are enjoying colorful lighted trees at waterfront locations including Alamitos Bay, Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier, Rainbow Lagoon, Rainbow Harbor, Spinnaker Bay, Colorado Lagoon. Good Neighbor, Heartwell and Scherer Parks are also displaying festive decorated trees. The tree program is managed by Parks, Recreation and Marine’s Marine Maintenance and Park Maintenance staff who prepare the trees for lighting ceremonies on Thanksgiving weekend. Staff repairs and paints the wooden structures, strings trees with colored lights, and tows to their positions where they are anchored and strung with electrical wire. Legend has it that the first floating tree in the bay was cast in 1949 by a local resident. The City became involved in the 1950’s and since then the forest of floating trees has grown to 65 trees. Spinnaker Cover Slip Owners Association Alamitos Heights Improvement Association Alamitos Bay Beach Preservation Group Trees in the Bay Association Belmont Shore Business Association Partners of Parks Peninsula Beach

Congratulations to Park Maintenance Assistant I Matthew George on being named the Employee of the Month for October. He has worked for PRM for two years and has been instrumental in many projects that keep our facilities clean and safe. Here are a few facts about Matthew: What’s the last TV show you binge-watched? The Sopranos. What’s the best thing you’ve learned in your current position? Patience. What’s your own advice that you always follow? Work hard every chance. What’s one small thing that makes your day better? Seeing my lead staff Walter smile. Who inspires you? My Grampa. What is or would be a good nickname for you at work? The Horse. What song always gets you onto the dancefloor? El Camaleon If you could have a superpower, what would it be? Fly Who would play you in a movie of your life? Clint Eastwood Using one word, how would you describe your family? Funny. A genie gives you one wish. What is it? Go back to 1985. Would you rather have a completely automated home or a self-driving car? Automated home. How long have you worked with Parks & Rec? How long with the City? Two years.