By CHRISTINA MERINO

Long Beach celebrated another major step in the MacArthur Park Rehabilitation Project on Saturday, June 8, with a ceremonial groundbreaking and remarks by city and community leaders as construction for the project has begun.

The project, located at MacArthur Park in the Cambodia Town area, entails significant renovations to sports courts, a versatile multi-purpose green space, picnic areas, new playground and other park enhancements, officials said.

“Parks continue to serve an essential function in our communities and our communities continue to demonstrate how meaningful this particular park is to this neighborhood,” Mayor Rex Richardson said during the ceremony.

“From literacy fairs to youth sports, Homeland Cultural Center and adjacent to Mark Twain Library, this is a hub for our local community,” he added. “It brings me joy to know that the young people in this community are going to have an exciting new park.”

The MacArthur Park Rehabilitation Project’s design is reflective of community input garnered through extensive public engagement opportunities, including programming priorities, accessibility and diversity of recreational elements, according to a press release.

The final design, officials said, includes an expanded playground featuring rubber safety surfacing, accessible play equipment for all ages, seating, and shade structures and takes design cues from the riverine landscape found in Cambodia and Southeast Asia.

The new park will include a walking trail with fitness equipment and community gathering spaces, said Marilyn Suraka, bureau manager in the Public Works Department. It will also include a large picnic shelter with a pagoda style shade structure inspired by Southeast Asian architecture, new trees and pedestrian scale lighting.

“I’m really excited and just so thrilled that we’re here today,” said Councilmember Suley Saro, who represents the Sixth District where the park resides.

Saro said that the project would not have been possible without the help of community organizations and leaders, and their advocacy to make sure there was a master plan for MacArthur Park. She thanked the organizations, including AOC7, Friends of MacArthur Park, City Fabrick, Cambodia Town and Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust.

“We can not determine what is needed in this park unless it’s including our community,” she said, “and it’s been a long journey but it couldn’t have happened without your vision and us all working together.”

In total, the project is estimated to cost $10.5 million. The city – with help from state Sen. Lena Gonzalez, D-Long Beach, and Assembly Speaker Emeritus Anthony Rendon, D-Lakewood – was able to secure an $8.5 million grant from California’s Department of Parks and Recreation in 2022.

Additional funding includes $1 million in Elevate ‘28 funds from the city’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget and $1 million in LA County’s Measure A funds, according to a press release.

“We know that green space encourages a healthy, active lifestyle that benefits both our physical and our mental health,” said Rocio Torres, a board member of AOC7. “I share this fact because myself and other neighbors and generations deserve the same opportunity to thrive in Long Beach. The MacArthur Park Renovations are just that, an opportunity to help our community thrive.”

Construction for the MacArthur Park Renovations Project began in late April and is expected to be completed by summer 2025.

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