PRESS RELEASE

Mayor Bob Foster, Vice Mayor Robert Garcia and the Departments of Parks, Recreation & Marine and Public Works invite the public to a dedication ceremony for a new park to be located at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, Alamitos Avenue and Sixth Street on Thursday, May 15, at 10 am.

"This project will not only provide the Hellman area neighborhood with its first parkspace, but will help beautify an important entry point into Downtown Long Beach," Mayor Bob Foster said.

The 0.84-acre park will be built in an area created by the closure of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, between Sixth and Seventh Streets.  The park will be located immediately west of the Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum, between the Museum of Latin American Art and the National Guard Armory building.  The city is preparing to change traffic flow patterns in the area to accommodate the park and improve safety. 

“This is a true community park, because the community has been involved in the planning and naming,” said Vice Mayor Garcia, who represents the First Council District. “This new park will contribute to the greening of Long Beach by creating a central open space near two museums for everybody to enjoy.”  

The park will be developed with a playground, half-court basketball court, exercise equipment, skate elements, a multi-use plaza and amphitheater, and drought-tolerant landscaping. The park will also provide storm water management.

The funding for the $4.66 million project will come from Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program, Federal Transportation Management Plan, State of California Statewide Parks grants and local gas tax revenues. The project is expected to go out for construction bids by summer 2014, and a construction timeline will be established for 2014-2015.

This park has been known in the past as Armory Park due to its location near the Armory. On March 11, 2014, the City Council requested that the Parks and Recreation Commission consider the name of Robert Gumbiner Park, and the City is currently in the review process for the official naming of the park. 

For more information about the dedication event, please call 562.570.3150.