Houghton Park Playground Project
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Background
Houghton Park has been part of the North Long Beach community since the 1920s, when part of the Houghton family ranch was converted into a park for public recreation and enjoyment. Over the years, many park features have been added, including the senior center, numerous sports courts and, in 2021, the Doris Topsy-Elvord Community Center.
The Houghton Park playground has brought joy to families for years and now requires modernization to continue providing exciting play opportunities for all visitors. The City of Long Beach is replacing aging equipment with brand new structures and enhancing the overall visitor experience with new trees, landscaping, and furnishings. The new playground will feature net climbers, slides and accessible elements, like rubber ground cover and an inclusive seesaw.
This project is part of the Elevate ’28 Infrastructure Investment Plan, a historic initiative dedicated to enhancing Long Beach parks, community facilities, mobility access, and streets. Learn more at lbelevate28.com.
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Timeline
The timeline below estimates timing for the playground improvements only.
| Finalize Construction Plans | Spring 2025 |
| Bidding and Award | Fall 2026 |
| Construction Start | Winter 2026 |
| Construction Complete | Spring 2027 |
Project timeline is set barring weather delays and other unforeseen circumstances.
Objectives
The objectives below apply to the playground improvements only.
- Enhance neighborhood outdoor recreational opportunities
- Offer enriching experiences with structures and activities for a variety of ages
- Improve playground accessibility with new and upgraded elements
- Introduce opportunities for creative and open play
Proposed Features
The features below apply to the playground improvements only.
- Acoustic play elements for all ages
- Nature exploration area with structures made of natural materials
- Native and water-efficient landscaping
- Multiple play structures, including slides, net climbing tower, swings and inclusive seesaw, in areas targeting different age groups (ages 2-5 and 5-12)
- New and modernized amenities, including water fountains, benches and dance stage
Project Funding
The Houghton Park Playground project is supported by Measure A, California State Parks, and Park Impact Fees.
More Information
- 09.16.26 Houghton Park Projects Community Meeting Presentation
- 08.27.26 Public Notice - Community Invited to Learn More About Improvement Projects Coming to Houghton Park
- 06.06.24 - Houghton Park Playground Project - Community Meeting Presentation
- 10.11.23 Houghton Park Playground Project - Community Meeting Presentation
Contact
For questions about this project, please contact ParksCIP@longbeach.gov.
Project Updates
On Wednesday, September 16, the Department of Public Works and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine hosted a community meeting at the Houghton Park Community Center to share upcoming improvement projects at the park. Councilmember Dr. Joni Ricks-Oddie and Parks, Recreation and Marine Director Stephen Scott gave opening remarks, followed by a presentation from the project team and a question-and-answer session with attendees.
The presentation covered four projects at Houghton Park: improvements to the parking lot and gathering area; a rebuilt playground with new accessible and music-themed play equipment; a new Bike Mobility Hub that will convert an underutilized space into a community hub supporting bike repair; and replacement of the Community Center roof with a new energy-efficient roofing system. The project team shared the scope, current status and estimated timeline for each. Residents are also encouraged to sign up for project updates to receive construction schedules and notice of future community meetings.
In early 2026, the City advertised the Houghton Park Playground work for public bidding to secure a contractor pursuant to Public Contract Code. Several of the bids received were non-responsive for local requirements and all bids were rejected. The City made revisions to the plans and specifications to support a rebid of the work and made clarifications to the documents where necessary. The project is currently out to Bid. For interested contractors and vendors, please visit the City’s procurement platform, Long Beach Buys longbeachbuys.buyspeed.com/. Upon receipt of favorable bids, the City will make a determination and a recommendation to award a construction contract.
Thank you for joining us at the Houghton Park Playground Project Update at the Houghton Park Neighborhood Association meeting on June 6, 2024. The project team presented updated designs based on feedback we received at the previous community meeting. If you missed the meeting, you can view and download the presentation here. Stay tuned for updates!
There will be a community meeting on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. at the Doris Topsy-Elvord Community Center located at 6301 Myrtle Ave. Join us to learn about project updates and next steps for the upcoming improvements. Interpretation services are available if requested by October 2, 2023, via email at contactlbpw@longbeach.gov.
Useful Links
Contact Public Works
411 W. Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone: (562) 570-5000
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