Parks, Recreation and Marine

Rosa Parks Park

Alamitos Avenue & 15th Street
(562) 570-3100
(.74 acres)

Information

Rosa Parks Park is a passive park where local residents can walk, rest, enjoy public art, and appreciate the contributions of Rosa Parks to our civil rights.

History

The central area of Long Beach recently gained some much needed open space and paid tribute to a civil rights pioneer with the opening of Rosa Parks Park on May 21. 

The public joined 6th District Councilmember Dee Andrews, Long Beach Redevelopment Agency Board Members, and staff from Long Beach Transit and the Departments of Parks, Recreation and Marine and Public Works for the opening event. The festivities included a reading of a Rosa Parks biography by Kazmere Duffy, a member of the 6th District's Youth Empowerment Workshop. The crowd also enjoyed musical performances by the Poly High School "inspired glee" group.

The .74-acre Rosa Parks Park was funded by the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency and includes amenities that celebrate the neighborhood. Councilmember Andrews worked with Long Beach Transit to create a bus plaza with seven benches to serve nearby residents. The benches will each be named for a local community religious organization that has agreed to adopt the park and keep it clean.

The "Roses for Rosa" art piece by artist Pat Ward Williams uses a rose as a visual theme for the Rosa Parks Park. Nestled in the roots of a "Heritage Tree" is a portrait of Rosa Parks. Black granite tiles sandblasted with Rosa Parks motifs and biographic information are placed along the walkway.

Councilman Andrews also dedicated an oak tree, named the "Tree of Equality," to recognize the contributions of Long Beach Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and its president Naomi Rainey. Other features of the new park include a walkway surrounded by native plants, a decorative raised planter and water friendly landscaping.

Amenities

Bus plaza benches, Decorative raised planter, Native plants, Walking path

Map to the Park