PRESS RELEASE

The City of Long Beach today celebrated the grand re-opening of the redesigned Recreation Park Playground, located along the north side of 7th Street between Federation Drive and Park Avenue, with a ceremony that included Mayor Robert Garcia, Third District Councilwoman Suzie Price and other City leaders.

"It’s great to welcome residents back to our Recreation Park Playground,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “This is the eleventh new playground we’ve built with Measure A funding in just the last four years and we’re so happy that it’s available for our kids and families just in time for summer.”

The newly renovated Recreation Park Playground will provide the community with updated playground facilities that create a safe space for hours of play and exploration. The playground renovations include two new separate age-appropriate playground structures for children ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12. The two playground surfacing areas include rubberized surfacing that allows playground enthusiasts of all abilities to access each of the different types of play offered including, but not limited to, swinging, balancing, climbing, sliding and spinning. Playground panels include American Sign Language basics to interact with all playground users and interactive play areas include features such as a “Dino Excavation Zone” digging area, multiple dinosaur structures, a megaphone and color play. Xylophone and bongo drums offer playground users an auditory experience. Enhanced outdoor recreational features include a skateboard park element, new picnic tables and seating, in addition to landscaping beatification such as new trees and turf.

Park amenities were designed with the forethought of improving accessibility infrastructure to promote inclusive play and recreation and to increase ADA accessibility.  

“I love the creative dinosaur theme of this new playground,” said Councilwoman Price. “Families will enjoy spending time here and having fun with these inventive new play elements.”

The $1.9 million project was made possible through Measure A funds which has resulted in repairs and upgrades to many Long Beach parks and facilities.

About Measure A 
Measure A, originally passed by Long Beach voters in 2016, has helped fund critical public safety and infrastructure enhancements citywide and has made historic investments in revitalizing heavily utilized public spaces such as streets, libraries, community centers and parks. For more information, visit longbeach.gov/MeasureA. 

About the City of Long Beach
Home to approximately 470,000 people, the multiple award-winning and innovative City of Long Beach offers all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods nestled together along the California coast. As a full-service charter city, Long Beach is home to the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, several museums and theaters, a highly-rated school district, Long Beach Airport, the Port of Long Beach, as well as many award-winning City departments such as Health and Human Services; Parks, Recreation and Marine; Development Services; Public Works and more. The City also has a highly respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, five hospitals, 12 libraries, five golf courses, 169 parks, miles of beaches, marinas, bike paths and a Bike Share program.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov. Watch us on LBTV. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

About Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine
Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine Department (PRM) is recognized for excellence in management practices and programs, having received the National Parks and Recreation Association Gold Medal Award four times. PRM provides leisure programs and services to residents and visitors, which improve quality of life in Long Beach. PRM maintains 169 parks with 26 community centers, 320 acres of open space, and 6.1 miles of beaches; implements the City's Open Space Plan, provides recreational opportunities to meet diverse community needs, maintains public marinas, and provides for public safety and the humane treatment of animals.

For more information about the Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine programs and services, visit www.longbeach.gov/park. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

About Public Works
The Long Beach Public Works Department strives to operate, preserve, and enhance the City's physical infrastructure and transportation systems. The Department provides a variety of community services including the repair, rehabilitation and general upkeep of City streets, trees, sidewalks, and City structures. Public Works also provides emergency support services throughout the City. Visit us at longbeach.gov/pw/, Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. 

###