Public Invited to Groundbreaking Ceremony for DeForest Park Environmental Education Center

Long Beach, CA - The Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) is hosting a groundbreaking ceremony for the new DeForest Park Environmental Education Center, which will serve as a satellite office for the nonprofit Conservation Corps of Long Beach (CCLB). Shovels will break ground at 4 p.m. Tuesday, September 28, at 6255 DeForest Ave.

“I’m so proud to see our city continue to build DeForest Park to make it the best asset it can be for families in Long Beach,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “This addition for our incredible Conservation Corps will open up many new possibilities for recreation, learning and community engagement.”

The development of the DeForest Park Environmental Education Center is made possible by a $1.9 million grant by the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy (RMC) to the CCLB to build the new facility along the Lower Los Angeles River. 

The new CCLB satellite office at DeForest Park will serve as the base of operations for the organization’s work along the Lower Los Angeles River along with community environmental stewardship activities at DeForest Park and Wetlands. It will feature office space and training areas for CCLB — which offers environmental-related work and training opportunities to young people in Long Beach — as well as community rooms open for public use. 

Development of the center was planned in accordance with the DeForest Park Vision Plan, which was produced in partnership with PRM, CCLB, City Fabrick, Camp Fire Angeles Council and the DeForest Park Neighborhood Association to serve as a guide for future developments at DeForest Park and Wetlands. 

“DeForest Park is truly a hidden gem in Long Beach, and I am so excited to see it continue to evolve to best serve the community,” said Vice Mayor Rex Richardson. “The new Environmental Education Center will continue our progress in shaping a cleaner and more vibrant Uptown community, complementing the 34 acres of restored wetlands and enhancing the visitor experience in the park.”

The CCLB is currently headquartered at 340 Nieto Ave. The organization has an existing Education, Conservation, Operations & Recycling Center at 3635 Atlantic Ave. as well as an Environmental Education Center at 3251 E. 19th St. in Signal Hill.  

For information about the groundbreaking event, call Gladys Kaiser, Manager of Community Recreation Services, at 562.570.3150.

For information about future developments at DeForest Park, call Nancy Villaseñor, Manager of Park Planning and Partnerships, at 562.570.3165.