Long Beach is set to officially welcome back one of its longest-standing neighborhood gathering spots this weekend, as the city celebrates the newly renovated Drake Park Community Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 3. The event, running from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at 951 Maine Ave., will include remarks from city leaders, refreshments and community activities marking the end of a construction effort that began in fall 2023.
The celebration is being hosted by the Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine in partnership with the Department of Public Works, according to the Press Telegram. The renovated center sits in the Willmore neighborhood, where it has long served as a hub for community gatherings and city programming, per the outlet's reporting.
Construction on the roof and HVAC systems began in fall 2023, and city records describe that work as nearing completion, according to a Long Beach Department of Public Works project page, which also notes that restroom construction was ongoing. The Press Telegram's reporting adds that the full scope of upgrades included a new roof, new interior lighting, improved HVAC systems, a remodeled kitchen, remodeled interior and exterior restrooms, a new gender-neutral restroom, and new furniture and an office area to support programming.
A Project Years in the Making
The improvements were designed to boost functionality, accessibility, comfort and usability at the facility, the Press Telegram reports. The city's project page for the site, part of the Elevate ’28 Infrastructure Investment Plan, states that the goal is to increase outdoor recreational access with a new city asset while enhancing the visitor experience.
Elevate ’28 itself has become a massive undertaking. What began as a $533 million plan has grown into an investment of more than $1 billion, according to the same Elevate ’28 project page, which calls it the largest infrastructure investment program in Long Beach history. A separate city resource page describes Elevate ’28 as a five-year infrastructure plan, covering fiscal years 2023 through 2027, that spans parks, public and community facilities, mobility and streets, funded in part through voter-approved Measure A along with other grant sources, per the city's Infrastructure Investment Plan page.
Funding for the Drake Park project specifically drew on $2.95 million in Measure A infrastructure funds, including Measure A bonds, and $1 million in Assembly Bill 32 funds, which are designed for energy-efficient improvements that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Press Telegram's reporting.
City Leaders Weigh In
Mayor Rex Richardson said Drake Park has always been a gathering place where neighbors connect, people recreate and history lives, and that the city looks forward to welcoming the community back to a revitalized Drake Park Community Center, per the Press Telegram. Councilmember Mary Zendejas said the city is proud to reopen the center, adding that children in the Willmore neighborhood and surrounding communities will have a safe and welcoming place to play, learn, grow and create lasting memories, the outlet reported. A city official identified as Stephen Scott said the renewed facility will continue to bring people together and strengthen the community, according to the same report.
The center has a history of serving the neighborhood through free afterschool youth programming, youth sports programs, summer food service programs, recreation contract classes and Movies in the Park community events, per the Press Telegram's account. Construction on the project was completed this past summer, the outlet reported.
Part of a Broader Parks Strategy
The city's Parks, Recreation and Marine Department is guided by the Parks Make Long Beach strategic plan, according to the Press Telegram, and has focused broadly on expanding access in park-deficient areas, creating safe and inclusive spaces, and supporting environmental sustainability. The department's own site separately identifies a draft version of that strategic plan as a guiding document for its work.
A city parks listing also points to Saturday's event at the Drake Park Community Center, describing the same 12:30 to 2 p.m. window. Residents interested in seeing the finished renovation firsthand can head to 951 Maine Ave. this weekend for the ribbon-cutting, remarks and community activities marking the center's return.
