PRESS RELEASE

City of Long Beach 
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd, 
Long Beach, CA 90802
www.longbeach.gov

6/17/2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEPress Release # 61722-3
Subject:
City Dedicates El Dorado Park West Community Center in Memory of Dr. Thomas J. Clark
Public invited to unveiling Saturday, June 25, 2022
Contact:
Jane Grobaty
562.570.3233
Jane.Grobaty@longbeach.gov
Community Information Officer
Parks, Recreation and Marine




The community center at El Dorado Park West is being dedicated in honor of Dr. Thomas J. Clark, a three-time mayor of Long Beach who served on the City Council for 30 years—the longest of any person in City history. The public sign unveiling and dedication ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 25, at 2800 N. Studebaker Road. 

“Tom Clark helped shape Long Beach into the amazing city it is today and played a pivotal role in the foundation of El Dorado Park,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “I couldn’t think of a better way to recognize a public servant who has given more to our city for a longer period than anyone else in Long Beach history.” 

The recommendation to rename the Fourth District’s El Dorado Park West Senior Center as Dr. Thomas J. Clark Community Center was brought forth by Councilman Daryl Supernaw and co-sponsored by Council members Cindy Allen and Al Austin. The recommendation was approved by the City Council on January 4, 2022, recognizing the legacy, contributions and service of the man, who died in 2020 at the age of 93. 

Dr. Clark, an optometrist, was elected to represent the City Council’s Fourth District for an unprecedented eight terms, from 1965 to 1996, and was selected by his peers three times to serve as mayor from 1975 to 1984—before mayors were elected by citywide voting. Prior to that, he served on the Parks and Recreation Commission in the early 1960s, leading the commission’s efforts to secure a bond for the purchase of land that is now El Dorado Park West. 

“It’s safe to say that without Tom Clark’s efforts, the hundreds of acres of open space we enjoy at El Dorado Park today would likely have been developed for commercial purposes,” said Fourth District Councilman Daryl Supernaw. “The man who handed out Clark Bars while he walked the district campaigning has left a sweet legacy in Long Beach.” 

Born on July 13, 1926, in San Diego, Dr. Clark graduated from Long Beach’s Wilson High School and joined the U.S. Army, serving in World War II. He later attended Long Beach City College, where the 6-foot, 2-inch student was a track star (inducted into the LBCC Hall of Champions), before earning a doctorate in optometry from UC Berkeley. 

Following his time on the City Council, Dr. Clark served on the LBCC Board of Trustees from 1998 to 2013 and was president of the Community College League of California, the California Community College Trustee Board, and the League of California Cities. 

For more information regarding the dedication, contact the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine at 562.570.3150. 

About the City of Long Beach  
Home to approximately 480,000 people, the multiple award-winning and innovative City of Long Beach offers all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods nestled together along the California coast. As a full-service charter city, Long Beach is home to the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, several museums and theaters, a highly rated school district, Long Beach Airport and the Port of Long Beach. The City also has a highly respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, five hospitals, five golf courses, 171 parks, miles of beaches, marinas and bike paths. 

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit http://longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube

About Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine 
Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine Department (PRM) is recognized for excellence in management practices and programs, having received the National Parks and Recreation Association Gold Medal Award four times. PRM provides leisure programs and services to residents and visitors, which improve quality of life in Long Beach. PRM maintains 169 parks with 26 community centers, 320 acres of open space, and 6.1 miles of beaches; implements the City's Open Space Plan, provides recreational opportunities to meet diverse community needs, maintains public marinas, and provides for public safety and the humane treatment of animals. 

For more information about the Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine programs and services, visit www.longbeach.gov/park. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.  

###