PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach is inviting the community to provide initial feedback on future improvements to the Long Beach Pride Lifeguard Tower through an online community survey now available through Friday, Sept. 15, 2023. The community is also invited to attend an in-person community meeting on Sept. 27, 2023, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at Bixby Park Community Center (130 Cherry Ave.) to learn more about the project and share their feedback.   

In the early months of 2021, the Long Beach Pride Lifeguard Tower (located along the shoreline and 12th Place) suffered severe fire damage, destroying the main structure, leaving behind an empty frame where the beacon once stood. The City worked quickly to restore the iconic tower, which has become a symbol for acceptance, inclusion and representation for the city’s LGBTQ+ community. 

To maintain its commitment to racial equity and inclusion, the Long Beach City Council approved funding in FY22 for additional improvements to the Pride Lifeguard Tower and the creation of the Pride Tower Community Hub. The proposed area will feature a repainted tower in the scheme of the Progress Pride Flag, a new inclusive and accessible boardwalk path which will offer greater access to the shoreline, and a new deck/platform that can be used for special events or just for general viewing. New mobility access mats, that complement those installed citywide, are proposed to provide greater access to the water’s edge. Finally, the City will seek regulatory approvals for the display of relevant and rotating public art in the vicinity that can activate the area during Pride Month or other special events. 

The survey is now available online until Sept. 15. Initial comments and feedback garnered from the survey will inform the design of the proposed improvements. Those with limited access to a computer or smart phone may visit one of the many public computer labs available at an open Long Beach Public Library location to access the survey. 

For additional questions or concerns, contact TidelandsCIP@longbeach.gov with the subject line “Pride Lifeguard Tower Project” or visit longbeach.gov/ptp for more project information and to sign up to receive updates.  

Media inquiries may be directed to Joy Contreras, Community Relations Officer, Department of Public Works, 562.570.6739, and Joy.Contreras@longbeach.gov.