Parks, Recreation and Marine

Information

Funded by a Grant from the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)
Los Cerritos Park – 1533 Tires Diverted

(8.0acres)
Complete with two tennis courts and a play area, Los Cerritos's 7.24 acres offers scenery perfect for walks, having a picnic, reading a book, or just relaxing.Visit the Contract class sports page for tennis class information. Check for details on the Long Beach Municipal Band concerts this summer. The original park had just 1.9 acres and was donated by Amelia M.E. Bixby and dedicated to the County of Los Angeles in 1907. It was annexed to the City in 1924. The park adjoined the Pacific Electric Los Cerritos Station where people in the area would go to commute to Los Angeles. Now the MTA Blue Line passes Los Cerritos Park every day.

History

The park is located at Country Club Drive and Bixby Road. The original park consisted of 1.9 acres, and was donated by Amelia M. E. Bixby and dedicated to the County of Los Angeles in May 1907. It was annexed to the City of Long Beach in 1924. This park adjoined the Pacific Electric Los Cerritos Station on its west side, and the steps leading down to the station remain.

An additional parcel of 2.28 acres was acquired in July 1940, and named for Charles R. Rowett. September 26, 1951, a 0.69-acre parcel of land at the northwest corner of Bixby Road and Country Club Drive was purchased from Richard C. Cheroske to complete Rowett Park. Both parcels were north of Bixby Road. Bixby Road through the park was then vacated to add 0.64-acres more. The final 2.47 acres, south of the original parcel, was acquired between 1951 and 1958 and the entire park renamed Los Cerritos Park.

The park is improved with a playground, two tennis courts, picnic areas and a restroom building. The park is a popular location for Municipal Band concerts. The playground was redeveloped in 1995 with funds from the Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond act of 1992. Additional improvements for the American's with Disabilities Act transition plan were competed in 2004 with funding from federal Community Development Block Grants.

In 1985, Gary Gabelich Memorial Grove was dedicated in the northwest section of the park in memory of the local resident. Gary won many drag racing championships and set world speed records on both land and sea. He also was associated with several local charitable causes including the California Pool for the Handicapped, Special Olympics and March of Dimes.

Amenities

Play equipment, Tennis Courts (lighted), Picnic Area.

Map to the Park