PRESS RELEASE

***Please note: This is the rescheduled date for the Grand Opening. The original event was canceled due to inclement weather.***

The new playground at Jenni Rivera Park (2001 Walnut Ave.) will open on Wednesday, Dec. 18, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. The park is named for the Latin Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, actor, television producer and entrepreneur, who died in a plane crash in 2012, when she was 43 years old. Rivera was born and raised in Long Beach.

“We are incredibly excited to open this playground, named after Long Beach legend Jenni Rivera,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “It will be a great new place for families in Central Long Beach to gather.”

The new playground, designed for children from five to 12 years old, includes a slide and many climbing structures. The playground equipment is designed to build motor skills, cognitive skills and social-emotional skills through sensory play. The base is made from rubberized surfacing. The playground is adjacent to the park’s bike and pedestrian paths, which is used by neighborhood families taking their children to and from school.

“This new playground is a very welcome addition to the neighborhood,” said Vice Mayor Dee Andrews, who represents the area. “Local youth now have a great new place to safely play.”

The grand opening celebration will include remarks from the Mayor and Vice Mayor as well as staff from the Departments of Parks, Recreation and Marine, and Public Works. Rivera’s sister, Rosie Rivera, is also scheduled to speak. The ribbon cutting will cap off the ceremony.

The cost of the new playground is approximately $260,000, with $250,000 of the funding allocated from Measure A and a $10,000 contribution by Vice Mayor Dee Andrews and the Sixth District Council Office utilizing one-time infrastructure funds.

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.

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