Maywood, Calif. – On October 12, 2022 Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) and Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) presented $3 million in state funds for the renovation of Maywood Riverfront Park. The funding will help transform the park to better serve local residents as a place for recreation, exercise, community gatherings, cultural events and more.

“Residents in Maywood have significantly lower access to park spaces and we need to ensure that we make the most out of existing green spaces so they can enjoy time outdoors, exercise, gather with friends and family, and have access to community resources,” said Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach). I am proud to have helped secure funds for Riverfront Park in partnership with my colleague Speaker Anthony Rendon and I am thankful for all the dedicated volunteers and community leaders who have fought with us and advocated for these improvements.”

“I’m excited about this project, because this park represents more than a place for kids to play. It is a recreation space, a contribution to an active and healthy community, and it is a necessary green space contributing to our environmental goals. Maywood needs this, it deserves this, and we are going to get it for Maywood,” said Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood).

“Maywood is grateful for the support Senator Lena Gonzalez and Speaker Anthony Rendon are bringing to our community with a combined State funding allocation of $3 million. This support will help renovate Maywood Riverfront Park for residents to enjoy for years to come. Thank you for investing in the green spaces and recreational opportunities in our community,” said Mayor Heber Marquez, City of Maywood.

“For too long Maywood has dealt with serious health impacts due to the overwhelming number of surrounding industries. Investing in green spaces in low-income neighborhoods is an investment in our quality of life and a step towards clean air, clean water, and clean soil,” said Veronica Ayala, Maywood resident & CBE leader, Communities for a Better Environment.

“It’s been our great honor at the Land Trust to partner with the Maywood community to design and plan this much needed park renovation project. The process started with community meetings and tabling sessions where Maywood residents shared their goals for the space. With this outstanding support from Senator Gonzalez and Speaker Rendon, we can now see this community-led design to fruition,” said Bruce Saito, Board Member, Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust.

###

Senator Gonzalez represents the 33rd Senate District, which includes the City of Long Beach and portions of South Los Angeles and Southeast Los Angeles including the cities of Bell, Bell Gardens, Cudahy, Huntington Park, Lakewood, Lynwood, Maywood, Paramount, Signal Hill, and South Gate. Senator Gonzalez lives in Long Beach with her family.

Speaker Rendon represents the 63rd Assembly District, which includes Maywood. He lives in Lakewood with his wife Annie and daughter Vienna. Website of Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon: www.asmdc.org/speaker

Mayor Heber Marquez serves as Intervention Coordinator at Los Angeles Unified School District. He represents the City of Maywood at the Gateway Cities of Government, COG 710 AdHoc Committee, and the LA County Sanitation District. Mayor Marquez advocates for our youth, believes in growing a positive transparent budget, and working on making Maywood a safer place to live for all.

Founded in 1978, Communities for a Better Environment (CBE) is one of the preeminent environmental justice organizations in the nation. The mission of CBE is to build people’s power in California’s communities of color and low income communities to achieve environmental health and justice by preventing and reducing pollution and building green, healthy and sustainable communities and environments.

Bruce Saito leads the California Conservation Corps and serves on a number of Los Angeles Boards and Commissions, including Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust. Bruce grew up in Los Angeles, graduated from San Francisco State University, and resides in Long Beach.