PRESS RELEASE

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine has received a $300,000 Facility Planning Grant from the California Department of Boating and Waterways (DBAW) to design improvements for Davies Launch Ramp. The Davies Launch Ramp is located below the Davies Bridge at the cross street of Second Street and Marina Drive, near Pacific Coast Highway and Second Street.

“Long Beach operates the largest municipally owned marina system in the United States,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “The City is committed to providing the region with quality aquatics experiences. In April, we reopened the Alamitos Bay Marina after a 105-million-dollar complete upgrade. We are excited about this opportunity to begin planning an upgrade to Davies Launch Ramp and continue to enhance our aquatic infrastructure.”

DBAW supports the operation and maintenance of publicly owned boat launching facilities. The grant will go toward completing designs, obtaining permits and establishing an engineer’s estimate of probable costs for future improvements, which includes replacing the existing seven-lane concrete v-grooved boat launch ramp with one that meets current design standards; replacing the pile-guided dock and gangway used by trailer-able vessels; and replacing the concrete apron and slip protection as needed. The plan will also estimate costs for building a new restroom, overlaying and restriping the parking lot, replacing the boat wash station waste enclosures and lighting, installing a fish cleaning station and additional signage.

The completed plan will put the City in position to act when construction funding is identified for the project.

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, Parks, Recreation and Marine, Development Services and more. The City also has a highly-respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, five hospitals, five golf courses, 171 parks, miles of beaches, marinas, bike paths, and a Bike Share program.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit http://longbeach.gov/. 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 the quality of life in Long Beach. PRM maintains 171 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, visit http://www.longbeach.gov/park. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

About the California Department of Boating and Waterways

The mission of the California Department of Boating and Waterways (DBAW) is to provide safe and convenient access to California’s waterways and leadership in promoting safe, enjoyable and environmentally sound recreational boating, DBAW focuses on recreational boating-related matters, including public access, safety and education, marine law enforcement, and consumer and environmental protection. The agency is responsible for planning, developing, and improving facilities on state-owned and state-managed properties, including those on State Parks and State Water Project properties. It also provides funding so that local agencies can renew deteriorated facilities or develop new public access. In addition, DBAW furthers environmentally sound boating practices through its clean and green programs. For more information about DBAW, visit www.dbw.ca.gov.