Dear Friend --

Our Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) summer youth and teen programs for 2020 will feature greatly reduced fees, lower staff-to camper ratios and enhanced safety protocols.

The City’s parks programs provide critical opportunities for families and kids to have a healthy, active lifestyle this summer. Staff has worked diligently to modify activities to support safe programs for our youth. 

This year, PRM will depart from its traditionally-offered summer programming, which offered two different programs: (1) a free, drop-in program offered for six hours a day and (2) fee-based, thematic day camps with care for up to 12 hours. Instead, it will combine the two programs, increasing the availability of childcare programs for children citywide while lowering fees.

Summer Day Camps for Ages 5-12

‘Recreation Reimagined’ camps will take place at 22 sites across the city and offer a variety of recreational, educational enrichment and fitness activities. An optional lunch, provided by the Long Beach Unified School District, will be available to campers at no charge.

Camps will operate weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., from July 6 through August 28 at a cost of $30 per week (down from $115 per week). Extended care is available from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. for an additional $20 per week. Youth scholarships will be available to Long Beach families who may need assistance affording the weekly camp fee. For information on scholarships, call 562.570.3150.

Long Beach residents may register online at lbparks.org beginning at 8 a.m. on June 20. On-site registration for residents will also be available from 8 a.m. to noon on June 20 at Belmont Plaza Pool (4000 Olympic Plaza), King Park Pool (1910 Lemon Avenue), Pan American Park (5157 Centralia Street), and the PRM Administration Building (2760 Studebaker Road). Thereafter, on-site registration is available by appointment only by calling 562.570.3150.

Registration for nonresidents begins June 27. Nonresidents may register online at lbparks.org beginning at 8 a.m. On-site registration will also be available for nonresidents by appointment only by calling 562.570.3150.

Safety protocols for summer day camps include:

  • Limiting the number of participants in each day camp
  • Assigning campers each week to a single group without interaction with other groups at the camp
  • Maintaining a 12:1 participant-to-staff ratio appropriate to the community center size
  • Implementing physical distancing protocols for all activities, including check-in and check-out
  • Cleaning and sanitizing facilities multiple times each day
  • Cleaning and sanitizing all high-touch areas frequently
  • Requiring face coverings for participants and staff 

Day Camps are offered at the following locations:

  • Admiral Kidd Park (2125 Santa Fe Avenue)
  • Bayshore Park (5415 E. Ocean Boulevard)
  • Bixby Park (130 Cherry Avenue)
  • Cesar Chavez Park (401 Golden Avenue)
  • Colorado Lagoon, Model Boat Shop (5059 E. Colorado Street)
  • Coolidge Park (352 E. Neece Street)
  • Drake Park (951 Maine Avenue)
  • El Dorado Park West (2800 N. Studebaker Road)
  • Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Avenue)
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Park (1950 Lemon Avenue)
  • McBride Park (1550 Martin Luther King Jr. Avene)
  • Orizaba Park (1435 Orizaba Avenue)
  • Pan American Park (5157 E. Centralia Street)
  • Ramona Park (2760 N. Studebaker Road)
  • Seaside Park (440 W. Cowles Street)
  • Scherer Park (4600 Long Beach Boulevard)
  • Silverado Park (1545 W. 31st Street)
  • Somerset Park (1500 E. Carson Street)
  • Stearns Champions Park (4520 E. 23rd Street)
  • Veterans Park (101 E. 28th Street)
  • Wardlow Park (3457 Stanbridge Avenue)
  • Whaley Park (5620 E. Atherton Street) 

Teen Programs for Ages 13-18

A free program for teens will be offered weekdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 6 through August 28. Activities will include recreation, educational enrichment and fitness. Lunch will be provided. No field trips will take place. Participants must register in advance at LBParks.org. There is a 20-participant maximum at each site.

Physical distancing protocols will be part of all activities, including camper check-in and check-out. All facilities and all high-touch areas will be cleaned and sanitized multiple times each day .

Teen programs will take place at Freeman Community Center (1205 Freeman Avenue) and Houghton, McBride and Silverado Parks.

Long Beach Jr. Lifeguards

The Long Beach Junior Lifeguard program will take place, in a modified format, this

summer. The Junior Lifeguard program will run two sessions a day, from July 6 through August 14. Those interested can find out more information and register at www.longbeachjgs.com. Safety modifications will include staggered start times and reduced participation numbers.

100 Days of Summer Programming Canceled for 2020  

Based on the large gatherings, hands-on activities that require sharing of equipment and materials, and inability to implement physical distancing protocols for these events, the following 100 Days of Summer programming will not be offered this summer:

  • Municipal Band Concert Series 
  • Movies in the Park
  • Summer Community Concerts 
  • All-City Beach Day 
  • Summer Theater by Musical Theater West 
  • DanceFest 
  • Drop-in Recreation Programs      

Virtual Recreation Programming 

In lieu of its usual slate of recreational classes, PRM has created Rec It! At Home, a virtual hub of park and educational programs. Categories include fitness, arts and crafts, reading, nature studies, as well as programs for older adults and family activities. PRM will continue to add virtual programming for the community and is also exploring opportunities to offer popular contract classes virtually.

The City will continue to evaluate any future CDC guidance, reopening stages and the State and City Health Orders to determine if PRM’s canceled programming could be safely reintroduced at a future date or shifted to become virtual programming.

Additionally, PRM is working with other City departments to identify opportunities to provide violence prevention activities in lieu of the traditional event-based Be SAFE programming. 

Parks have become a critical part of reopening the Long Beach community and economy. Parks provide healthy outdoor areas for exercise, improve mental health by reducing stress, and clearly improve psychological, emotional and physical well-being. Dog parks, trails, the beach paths, park parking lots, tennis centers and golf courses were some of the first public spaces to be reopened, with appropriate physical distancing and safety measures to further prevent the spread of COVID-19.  

Thank you,

Mayor Robert Garcia

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Robert Garcia - Mayor of Long Beach · 411 W Ocean Blvd 11th Floor, Long Beach, CA 90802, United States
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