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The public enthusiastically welcomed the upgraded Cherry Park playground at a grand opening ceremony on July 24, 2021. The event was the first outdoor, in-person event held since the lifting of the State’s and City’s Safer at Home order. The Cherry Park Playground project features the beautification and revitalization of the area with the installation of new and improved playground equipment featuring separate, age-appropriate structures and enhanced safety elements, including

rubberized landing surfaces. Additional features were also included to ensure ADA accessibility and compliance. The total project cost was $400,000, which was made possible through the voter-approved Measure A funds (2016). The revitalized playground adds to the recreation amenities at the 77-year old, 10.1-acre park which includes three baseball diamonds, tennis and basketball courts, and picnic areas.

As I sat down to compose this message to all of you for our August publication of “We Create Community”, a long-awaited text message came in from Grand Rapids, Michigan. “It’s a girl!” My daughter shared the great news with me as I am now officially a grandpa. I could not be happier as I am reminded of the importance of family. This summer has been an important one for families across Long Beach as we have with shared happiness brought back programming and events throughout Long Beach city parks and recreation facilities. Summer Camps, Movies in the Park, Muni Band and Community Band concerts have filled parks with delighted neighbors who welcomed cherished activities back into their beloved parks. A special congratulations to Kurt Curtis for his selection as the new Muni Band conductor in a welcomed, albeit abbreviated summer concert season for two weeks of musical merriment scheduled for Whaley, Los Cerritos, Marine Stadium, Bixby Bluff and El Dorado West parks. Animal Care Services successfully made it through the annual Springtime kitten season when there has always been an uptick in the number of available kittens for fostering and adoption. So many loving individuals and families opened their hearts and homes for both kittens and puppies over the past few months. The Adoption Waggin’ continued to have a community presence every other Saturday to also offer adoption opportunities to interested residents. With beautiful summertime weather, our beaches and marinas have been super busy along with our parks. The exceptional efforts of our parks and beach maintenance teams really make the public’s experience enjoyable and memorable! New playgrounds and park improvements along with beach concession facilities are quickly becoming iconic magnets of fun community engagement that Long Beach is becoming known for. As summer winds down and we approach the new school year, all our Parks, Recreation, Marine and Animal Care Services team are thankful for the opportunities to serve the community in so many important ways. We are sharing the excitement of the city for the return of the Grand Prix next month the weekend of September 24-26, 2021. Enjoy the remaining days of the Summer of 2021!

Along with the ever-popular turtles in the lakes and the lizards skittering through the leaves during the warmer months at El Dorado Nature Center, one might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a gopher snake. Often mistaken for rattlesnakes, gopher snakes are not venomous and play an important role in the ecosystem for controlling the rodent population, including gophers.  As prey animals themselves, gopher snakes may employ a defense mechanism known as mimicry in which a harmless species resembles or behaves like a harmful species. If you see a snake on the trail, just relax and give it space to get away!

LBPRM will offer several new, in-person recreation classes for people of all ages beginning in September. All classes will adhere to current COVID-19 safety protocols. Registration is going on now at LBParks.org or by calling 562.570.3111. In-person registration is also available at the PRM Administration Building, 2760 N. Studebaker Road, by making an appointment at https://bit.ly/3yLTqTa.  The following in-person classes have been added to the fall schedule: Preschool Classes: Cooking Thyme!, Amigos and Bamboleo Amiguitos (Spanish Immersion), Horse Fun for Preschoolers, Reading, Math & More Preschool, D-Up Tiny Ballers, HoopsterTots, Mommy/Daddy & Me Soccer, Multi Sport Tots, Pre Soccer and SoccerTots. Youth Classes: Basic Cooking for Kids, Cake Design, Children’s Dance Workshop, Horse Fun for Kids, Math Development 2-6, Reading Development 2-6 and K-1, D-Up Ballers, Jujitsu, Karate, Shotokan Karate, Skatedogs, Skateboarding and Soccer 1 Techniques and Teamwork.

Teen Classes: Basic Cooking for Teens, Children’s Dance Workshop and Online Drivers’ Education. Adult Classes: Fast Quilt, 2 Step & Swing, Almost Ballet, Argentine Tango, Line Dancing, Dog Behavior Training 101 Positive Reinforcement, Dog Behavior Training 201 Positive Reinforcement, Online Computer and Internet Courses, Horse Fun for Adults, 40-30-20 Interval Training, Aerobics Lite, Affirmations & Hatha Yoga, and B.L.A.S.T. Total Body Fitness, Capoeira, SCI-Cardio Sculpt Low-Impact Aerobics, Fusion Pilates Conditioning, Pilates MAT Fitness, Yoga with Lacey, Zumba en Español, Jujitsu, Karate and Shotokan Karate.   Adults 50+ Classes: Senior Line Dancing, Chair Based Yoga, Gentle Yoga – All Levels, Senior Fitness, and Zumba® Gold Toning with Stretch. Details regarding fees, class descriptions, locations and other instructions are available upon registration.

Parks, Recreation and Marine is pleased to announce that the Long Beach Municipal Band will hold two weeks of performances, beginning August 17 at local Long Beach parks. Kurt Curtis, the son of late, long-time Long Beach Municipal Band conductor Larry Curtis will take up the baton as the new conductor of the 112-year old, 40-piece professional band.   Kurt Curtis has been a member of the Municipal Band’s trumpet section for 25 years and has performed as a soloist and guest conductor on numerous occasions. He has also been a musician, performer, and conductor at Disneyland for the past 38 years where he is currently the conductor of the Disneyland Band, leader of the Fanfare Trumpets and Pearly Band, and serves as Master of Ceremonies for many park offerings. Additionally, Curtis has performed with orchestras throughout Southern California, including Broadway shows at the Ahmanson Theater. He has been a recording musician in Hollywood on many movie soundtracks, television shows and cartoons, and has toured extensively throughout the United States and Japan. Curtis’ wide-ranging musical expertise and background in entertainment will serve him well in his new role as conductor of the Long Beach Municipal Band.  When asked about his new appointment, Curtis stated, “I’m truly honored to be named the new conductor of this historic and treasured group of musicians that bring so much joy and unity to the community.” For the upcoming two weeks of concerts, the conductor put together programs featuring fan favorites.  The first week’s theme of “Strike Up the Band” will take listeners on a journey through major American music genres – movie scores, musicals, the Big Band era and pop. The second half of the program will feature Ms. Barbara Morrison, the renowned jazz and blues singer, who along with the Long Beach Municipal Band will perform many all-time favorites.  Week two’s program, “A Celebration Through Music” will be a tribute to Mr. Curtis’s late father and former Municipal Band Conductor Mr. Larry Curtis, who passed away in June 2019 after leading the band for 27 years. Esteemed vocalist Ms. Nicole Kubis also will join the band following intermission for a rockin’ performance. All concerts start at 6:30 p.m.

Pan American Park is located at 5157 Centralia Street in the Lakewood Village area of Long Beach, at Centralia and Heather Road. Bancroft Middle School is across the street to the east and Twain Elementary and Lakewood High School are also near by. This park land was originally developed by the Los Angeles County Recreation Department and was annexed by the City of Long Beach. The County of Los Angeles transferred this park to the City of Long Beach on September 29, 1954. The 12.5-acre park includes a gymnasium, two lighted softball fields, a basketball court, two handball courts, a volleyball court, pre-school and school aged children’s playgrounds, a freestanding restroom, and picnic areas. Night lighting was added at Bancroft Middle School’s fields to use in combination with the Pan American Park softball facilities with funding from the State Parks Bond Act of 2000. Pan American Park offers after school programs, camps. sports leagues for youth, and adult sports leagues. The park is also a Be S.A.F.E. site offering extended hours of supervised recreation programming during the summer.

Special Shout Out to custodial staff for undertaking a laborious task to refurbish the wood floors at Pan-American Gym, right in time for summer programing. Walter Castilla was the lead custodian that provided his extensive knowledge to accomplish the project to reduce the cost by performing the work in-house. He was assisted by Jose Razo, Sergio Cordova, Jermaine Washington, and Matthew George.

The Marine Bureau Maintenance staff completed several tree plantings in Tidelands areas this month. Will Rogers Mini Park, the Bixby Annex, and the Junipero Beach parking lot all have beautiful new Brisbane Box trees, and Shoreline Park has a new Crepe Myrtle tree with dark pink flowers.

The Marine Bureau’s Queensway Bay maintenance team recently installed a new basketball court at Pierpoint Landing and filled the base with 85 bricks for counterweight and secured it to the concrete so it cannot be moved.

Parks Facility Maintenance staff installed two new diving boards at Silverado Pool in time for summer swim and programming.

Congratulations to Lilia Romero, our June 2021 Employee of the Month. Lilia has been the Secretary for the Park Planning and Partnership Bureau for the past two years. She recently answered a few questions so we can get to know her better. What’s the last TV show you binge-watched? “Walking Dead’, just finished season 10. What’s the best thing you’ve learned in your current position? There’s always room for improvement, to make processes more efficient. What’s your own advice that you always follow? “Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” What’s one small thing that makes your day better? Coffee Who inspires you? My parents, they work so hard to provide the best life for my siblings and me.

What is or would be a good nickname for you at work? My legal name is Lilia, but I prefer to be called Lily. What song always gets you onto the dancefloor? I don’t have a particular song, but any Cumbia will get me dancing. If you could have a superpower, what would it be? Teleport, so I can visit my parents in Texas whenever I want. Who would play you in a movie of your life? Kate del Castillo, I grew up seeing her in Mexican telenovelas and admire her acting skills. Using one word, how would you describe your family? Close-knit, we’re always together! With COVID and working from home I had the opportunity to see my kids grow in a way I haven’t experienced since they were babies. Time flies and they grow up so fast. A genie gives you one wish. What is it? Good health for my family and me. Would you rather have a completely automated home or a self-driving car? Self-driving car so I don’t have to deal with driving through traffic.