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July is a time when more than ever, Long Beach residents and visitors come out with family and friends to enjoy our parks, and beaches. As we begin to see a positive turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic, Parks Recreation and Marine (PRM) is joining recreation agencies across the state in declaring July 2021 as Parks Make Life Better!® Month. Throughout the 31 days of July, activities are planned that celebrate health and wellness, create memorable experiences, connect people to nature, and bring communities together. The fun includes movies, virtual lectures and work outs, in-person story times, and more. Locations, times, and program details will be available on LBParks.org. Because it is “Parks, Make Life Better Month”, PRM will present a draft of its Strategic Plan Update to the Long Beach Parks and Recreation Commission in June and the Long Beach City Council in July. The PRM Strategic Plan will cover a 10-year period, from 2021-2031, and will guide operational, staffing and budgeting decisions for the Department. For a summary of the 2003 PRM strategic plan, visit www.lbparks.org.

Find out about the programs Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine will offer this summer. Community Recreation Services staff has planned “Sunshine Seeking”, a fun summer scavenger hunt that will lead participants to various City parks to learn about free and low-cost activities for youth and families. “Sunshine Seeking” starts and ends at Heartwell Park, on Friday, June 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Start by picking up a hunt directions form. Scavenger hunters will find a small sun with a riddle next to it in the front windows of the community centers at: Heartwell, 5801 E. Parkcrest Ave. Coolidge Park, 352 E. Neece St. Admiral Kidd Park, 2125 Santa Fe Ave. M.L. King Park, 1950 Lemon Ave. Recreation Park, 4900 E 7th St. Meet the staff at each site for a special stamp. Complete the riddle to solve the phrase at the bottom of the hunt directions form to show that you have ‘found sunshine”! End the day by 6 p.m. at Heartwell Park with your completed form and claim a prize while supplies last. For more information, call 562.570.1635.

So, what is this June Gloom all about? I am finding June to be bright and promising as we can now see more clearly into Long Beach’s full reopening. For Parks, Recreation, Marine and Animal Care Services, our team’s optimism that has delivered us through the long, dark pandemic tunnel has become an even shinier beacon drawing us into summer. Our Community Recreation Services team has been super busy planning for the return of a rich array of programs, camps, and special events. In reflecting back over the past year of COVID, our department stepped up to the call of duty with over 158 PRM team members accepting reassignment to other essential duties. The creative and innovative efforts of our Recreation team made it possible for our WRAP Expanded Learning Program to be delivered virtually at all eight WRAP sites and to develop a brand new Virtual Camp program based at Heartwell Park. There were approximately 9,000 cumulative virtual attendees in the combined virtual programs. Additionally, the Recreation team established four Learning Hubs that provided space for over 660 attendees to participate in LBUSD distance-learning, receive homework help and participate in safe recreational activities. The newly developed Mobile RECess program delivered recreation fun to 11 sites and served approximately 2,100 youth. More than 100,000 senior meals were served from April of 2020 through May of 2021 at our five regional parks and the Long Beach Senior Center throughout the pandemic. All the while, Parks and Marine Maintenance teams continued to provide extraordinary services to keep our public recreation areas clean, safe and welcoming. From my point of view in the year when the Olympics needed to be safely delayed, I would award GOLD medals to all of our Parks, Recreation, Marine and Animal Care Services team members for their world-class performances. The Department’s Strategic Plan that will be updated with recommendations based upon community-wide input through surveys and focus group discussions will be advanced to the Parks and Recreation Commission this month. With the Commission’s support, the plan will be on City Council’s agenda for presentation and action in July during “Parks Make Life Better” month. Memorial Day holiday weekend marked the beginning of our summer busyness and the parks and beaches were certainly packed with celebratory energy. Long Beach residents saw a noticeable increase in visitors who are now feeling more comfortable in traveling and gathering in greater numbers safely. Just as all our picnic tables and shelters were filled for Mother’s Day, we expect our park facilities to be equally popular this month for Father’s Day. So, what is in store as Long Beach advances out of the COVID era and into a greater sense of normalcy? Certainly, the return of “Movies in the Parks” and Summer Concerts will be warmly welcomed. Sports fields and courts are quickly returning to pre-COVID levels of pick-up play and scheduled practice and competition. June is certainly “busting out all over”! Have a safe and enjoyable ease into summer.

The entrance to the Golden Grove Area in the El Dorado Regional Park is blooming with beautiful plants that amaze visitors and are a favorite of butterflies. From sunflowers and milkweed to hollyhocks and thistles, every color, shape and texture you can imagine are arranged together in around the entry sign and show off the wonders of nature in the middle of our City. The area was started years ago by retired Grounds Maintenance Gardner Tracey Hauck. She still volunteers to maintain the site with fellow volunteer Mike Martinez and Park Maintenance Supervisor Clemente Cerrillos.

PRM will offer in-person adaptive recreation programs for middle and high school youth and adults, providing fun and enriching experiences such as art, games and fitness activities designed for people with special needs. Programs will run June 21 through August 27. Registration is available in-person at Stearns Champions Park by appointment only. To make an appointment or for more information, people may call 562.440.2867.  The Adaptive Youth and Adult Recreation Programs will take place Monday through Friday at Stearns Champions Park, located at 4520 E. 23rd St. The middle and high school programs, for youth grades six through 12, will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and the adult program will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. The program cost is $20 per week for youth and $15 for adults. Both programs will maintain appropriate staff-to-participant ratios and other enhanced safety protocols for the health and safety of both participants and staff.

In December 2020, Long Beach City Council voted to rename the Bixby Park Dog Park in honor of Dr. Myrna “Mickey Donahoe”. Before passing away in October 2020, Dr. Donahoe headed the Friends of Bixby Dog Park to advocate for a community gathering place for pets and their owners. Her efforts led to the Bixby Park Dog Park opening on November 4, 2017. The group improved the park with new benches, an information kiosk and regular deliveries of wood chips and mulch to dog park to keep dust and dirt to minimum levels. PRM Maintenance staff recently installed the new Dr. Myrna “Mickey” Donahoe Dog Park flag sign.

For the 42nd year in a row, the City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) will offer the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) to provide free, nutritious meals to Long Beach children and youth throughout the summer months. Running June 21 through August 27, 2021, PRM will provide free meals for children and youth Monday through Friday, with times varying at each site between 11a.m. to 1p.m. (excluding Monday, July 5, 2021). Meals will be available to all attending children and youth between one and 18 years old. Infant meals will not be provided. PRM will conduct a “Grab n Go” service, similar to what is provided by the Long Beach Unified School District during the school year, where participants receive meals that can be enjoyed on or off site. Meals will also include cold components such as milk, juice, fruits and vegetables. The Summer Food Service Program began in Long Beach in 1979 and has since provided meals to over two million youth. To view the complete list of locations where meals will be provided and for more information, visit the PRM website www.lbparks.org or call the Summer Food Office at 562.570.3226.

Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) will offer several new in-person recreation classes beginning in July. Classes will be offered for ages preschool to 50 years and older, and include a variety of physical, intellectual and fun interests. Registration is going on now at LBParks.org or in-person at the PRM Administration Building, located at 2760 N. Studebaker Road. In-person registration is available by appointment only. In-person appointments may be scheduled at https://bit.ly/3w5jgQA or by calling 562.570.3111. For the health and safety of all participants, instructors and staff, all classes will adhere to current COVID-19 safety protocols outlined in https://bit.ly/3g2YLOV until further notice. Details regarding class fees, descriptions and instructions, and locations will be available upon registration. The July recreation classes that will be offered include the following below. Preschool: Cooking Thyme!, Amigos and Bamboleo Amiguitos (Spanish Immersion), Horse Fun for Preschoolers, Reading, Math & More Preschool, Biddy Soccer League, Biddy Tee Ball League, D-Up Tiny Ballers, HoopsterTots, Mommy/Daddy & Me Soccer, Multi Sport Tots, Pre Soccer, SoccerTots, Tee Ball Skillz and Tot Soccer.  Youth Camps: Adventures in STEM Using LEGO, Basketball Camp, Challenger International Soccer (Half Day AM and Tiny Tykes), Cowboy & Cowgirl Camp, Crazy Chemworks Camp, Flag Football Fueled by USA Football, Fun-gineering, Mix Ups & More!, Harry Potter & Hogwarts Camp, Mad Science NASA Space Academy, Play-Well TEKnologies, Mini-Hawk Camp. Multi Sport Camp, Percy Jackson Camp, Pokemon Engineering Using LEGO, Robotics Using LEGO WeDo Systems, Secret Agent Lab, Tee Ball Camp and Wings & Things.  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+: Senior Line Dancing, Chair Based Yoga, Gentle Yoga – All Levels, Senior Fitness, and Zumba® Gold Toning w/ Stretch. For more Information about PRM programs visit LBParks.org.

The Grounds Maintenance team has recently completed projects to enhance our sports fields and irrigation systems at several parks throughout the city as we head into the busy summer months. Gardener Robert Quinones removed overgrown brush at Jack Nichol Park and replaced with beautiful native plants. He also enhanced an area of Orizaba Park with new native plants. Gardener Eduardo Magallon renovated soccer field 2 at El Dorado Park West and made irrigation system improvements in parks throughout the City. Sprinkler Technician Jaime Sanchez assisted by locating and upgrading hundreds of irrigation valves, many of which were inoperable. Maintenance Operations Clerk Olivia Casillas supported all the projects by managing the work order system and generating valuable reports for the team.

Parks, Recreation and Marine offers many enhanced programs and services, and upgraded facilities due to partnerships with the community and local businesses. The Michael K Green Skate Park at 14th Street Park (14th Street between Pacific and Pine Avenues) opened on January 17, 2010 and offers local skaters grind rails, ledges, banks, stairs, walls and gaps on which to perform skate maneuvers. The park namesake was a young man who was killed in gun crossfire and was known as a positive influence among fellow skaters in the neighborhood. The non-profit Sk8 Dojo (Skate Dojo) received $10,050 in grant funds from General Motors. They donated $8,300 to Partners of Parks to augment PRM’s budget to improve the park by replacing a section of decomposed granite with concrete to create additional skating areas. The grant balance of $1,750 will be used for supplies for quarterly clean up events at the park coordinated by Sk8 Dojo along with Habitat for Humanity and Washington Middle School area neighbors. Organizers hope to engage local youth in the events to “build resumes, develop leadership skills and maintain social health and wellness.” PRM General Maintenance Assistant Oscar Alaniz coordinated the contractors to repair damaged skate ramp boards throughout the park, and replace an existing skate element with a new metal product to increase its life expectancy.

The Long Beach Marine Bureau offers several conveniently located facilities for launching vessels from mobile trailers. Four of these launch ramp facilities are on the east side of Long Beach, close to the 405, and 605 Freeways, and one location is on the west side of the City, near the 710 Freeway. The per-day rate for use of these facilities is $12. Cash, debit cards, and credit cards (MasterCard and Visa) are accepted at the launch ramp pay stations. Davies Launch Ramp - 6204 East Marine Drive  Located on the east side of Long Beach, just below the Davies Bridge at Second Street and Marina Drive, this facility is open 24 hours and allows for overnight parking. In addition to multiple boat launch lanes, Davies Launch Ramp features public restrooms, short-term dock space for boarding and disembarking passengers, complementary pump out stations, and coin operated wash down stations. South Shore Launch Ramp - 590 Queensway Drive           Located near the Queen Mary overlooking Downtown Long Beach, this facility is open 24 hours and allows overnight for parking. In addition to multiple boat launch lanes, South Shore Launch Ramp features public restrooms, short-term dock space for boarding and disembarking passengers, and complementary wash down stations. Marine Stadium - 5255 Paoli Way          Located in east Long Beach at the Marine Stadium facility, this launch ramp is open year-round, from 8 a.m. to dusk, for vessels up to 23 feet in length. No overnight parking is allowed at this location. Public restrooms are available. Special events regularly are scheduled in this facility which prohibit launching. A posted schedule of these programs is located near the facility’s entrance or call (562) 570-3203 for recorded event information. Claremont Launch Ramp - 5300 E. Ocean Blvd. Located at Claremont Ave. and Ocean Blvd., this launch ramp is open year round from 8 a.m. to dusk, for sand launch of small sail vessels. No overnight parking is allowed at this location.Granada Launch Ramp - One South Granada Ave.           Located at Granada Ave. and Ocean Blvd., this launch ramp is open year round from 8 a.m. to dusk, for sand launch for small vessels and personal watercraft. No overnight parking is allowed at this location.  Granada Launch Ramp - One South Granada Ave. Located at Granada Ave. and Ocean Blvd., this launch ramp is open year round from 8 a.m. to dusk, for sand launch for small vessels and personal watercraft. No overnight parking is allowed at this location.

June is Pet Preparedness Month, and the Long Beach Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications is encouraging pet owners to include their four-legged friends in emergency. In collaboration Long Beach Animal Care Services, pet adoptions that occur during the month of June will receive free pet emergency preparedness kits. How to prepare your pets for an emergency:  Keep veterinarian information and vaccination records in a safe place. Make sure all pets wear collars and tags with up-to-date identification information. Pet ID tags should contain name, telephone number and any urgent medical needs. Microchip pets as a more permanent form of identification. A microchip is implanted under the skin in the animal’s shoulder area, and can be read by a scanner at most animal shelters. Bring pets indoors at the first sign or warning of a storm or disaster. Pets can become disoriented and wander away from home in a crisis. What to include in your pets’ emergency kit: At least seven days of food and water. Medicines and medical records. A photo of you with your pet that can help reunify you or prove ownership in the event you become separated from your pet. Any paperwork with registration information or ID numbers. Replace old food and medication and update photos and emergency contact information annually. Sanitation materials such as litter/litter box, paper towels, plastic trash bags and a small hand shovel. Pet toys, treats or bedding to help reduce stress. A collar with an ID tag. A crate or pet carrier. Store the emergency kit and leashes as close to an exit as possible. Make sure that everyone in the household knows where it is. For more information about pet preparedness, please visit: longbeach.gov/disasterpreparedness and follow the Disaster Preparedness Department on Facebook and Instagram.

Congratulations to PRM April Employee of the Month Daisy Torres. Daisy has worked for PRM for the last five years and is currently a Recreation Leader/Specialist IV assigned to King Park where she helps oversee after school and camp programs.she has been working with PRM for 5 years – her answers below: What’s the last TV show you binge-watched? The last TV show I binge watched was probably “One Piece” or “Black Butler”. What’s the best thing you’ve learned in your current position? Being in this position I learned that growing from your mistakes is the only way to succeed. What’s your own advice that you always follow?        My daily mantra is “if you’re going to do something, might as well do it the right way with confidence in succeeding. What’s one small thing that makes your day better? Learning and growing with the kids I work with daily. Who inspires you?  My greatest inspirations are my parents and my family. They all inspire me in their own way. What is or would be a good nickname for you at work? SpongeBob SquarePants because he is employee of the month, every month. What song always gets you onto the dance floor?  “Look at Me Now” by Chris Brown. If you could have a superpower, what would it be?               It would definitely be knowing everything. Who would play you in a movie of your life?  I can imagine one of my family members playing me in my life.  A genie gives you one wish. What is it? I would wish for the ability to time travel. Would you rather have a completely automated home or a self-driving car? I would rather have a self-driving car. Using one word, how would you describe your family? Funny!