Long Beach is set to officially welcome back one of its longest-standing neighborhood gathering spots this weekend, as the city celebrates the newly renovated Drake Park Community Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 3. The event, running from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at 951 Maine Ave., will include remarks from city leaders, refreshments and community activities marking the end of a construction effort that began in fall 2023.
The celebration is being hosted by the Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine in partnership with the Department of Public Works, according to the Press Telegram. The renovated center sits in the Willmore neighborhood, where it has long served as a hub for community gatherings and city programming, per the outlet’s reporting.
Construction on the roof and HVAC systems began in fall 2023, and city records describe that work as nearing completion, according to a Long Beach Department of Public Works project page, which also notes that restroom construction was ongoing. The Press Telegram’s reporting adds that the full scope of upgrades included a new roof, new interior lighting, improved HVAC systems, a remodeled kitchen, remodeled interior and exterior restrooms, a new gender-neutral restroom, and new furniture and an office area to support programming.
A Project Years in the Making
The improvements were designed to boost functionality, accessibility, comfort and usability at the facility, the Press Telegram reports. The city’s project page for the site, part of the Elevate ’28 Infrastructure Investment Plan, states that the goal is to increase outdoor recreational access with a new city asset while enhancing the visitor experience…