Project:
The Drake/Chavez Greenbelt project is the creation of a 50-acre park along the lower Los Angeles River in the City of Long Beach to link Cesar E. Chavez Park (23 acres) to Drake Park (6 acres) through the acquisition and development of 31 acres of former industrial and abandoned railroad property with wetlands, habitat, interpretative signage, and active and passive recreation.
Need:
The urban downtown area of the Long Beach community lacks open space, wildlife habitat, environmental education opportunities and recreational amenities. This neighborhood is densely populated, ethnically diverse, with historic homes, a low-income population and a large youth population. A new greenbelt park will provide needed open space, recreational activities, environmental education, and contribute to the revitalization of the downtown area.
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Opportunities:
- Increase park open space by 31 acres
- Increase wetlands and wildlife habitat
- Increase active and passive recreation
- Opportunity for environmental education
- Opportunity for Green Building through reuse of former industrial property, abandoned and denuded railroad property, and construction of a LEED certified nature/community center.
- Easy public access by the community through public transportation
- Linkage to the Los Angeles River Bike Path
Status:
Phase I (COMPLETE): Park Conceptual Design. The City held multiple community meetings in 2008 and 2009 to create the final concept design that is pictured above.
Phase II: Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The City is seeking funding for the EIR.
Phase III: Construction Drawings (future). Upon completion of the EIR, funding will be sought for the final design development, construction drawings, engineering, floor plans, traffic/engineering reports and permits.
Phase IV: Construction (future).
Phase II: Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The City is seeking funding for the EIR.
Phase III: Construction Drawings (future). Upon completion of the EIR, funding will be sought for the final design development, construction drawings, engineering, floor plans, traffic/engineering reports and permits.
Phase IV: Construction (future).
Funding:
Land Acquisition and Planning Funding:
- Propositions 12 and 40, Proposition A
- Long Beach Open Space Bond and Redevelopment Agency Funds
Coordinating Plans:
- California Outdoor Recreation Plan, State of California
- Common Ground, From the Mountains to the Sea
- Los Angeles River Master Plan
- Long Beach 2010 Strategic Plan
- Long Beach RiverLink Plan
- Long Beach Open Space Element of the General Plan
- Wetlands Feasibility Study
City Partnerships:
- California Resources Agency
- California State Parks
- California Coastal Conservancy
- Long Beach Redevelopment Agency
- Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers and Mountains Conservancy
- County of Los Angeles, Regional Park and Open Space District
- County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works
- Port of Long Beach
- Friends of the Los Angeles River
- Wilmore City Heritage Association
- Partners of Parks
Representatives
Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal, 1st Council District, Long Beach. County Representation: Supervisor Don Knabe. State Representative: Warren Furutani, 55th Assembly District; Jenny Oropeza, 28th Senatorial District; and Rod Wright, 25th Senatorial District. Federal Representation: Laura Richardson, 37th Congressional District.
For More Information, please contact:
Leslie Hunsaker, Administrative Analyst, Planning and Development Bureau, City of Long Beach, Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine, 2760 N. Studebaker Road, Long Beach, CA 90815-1697. Phone: 562-570-3131 Fax: 562-570-3119 Email: Leslie.Hunsaker@LongBeach.gov
