This opinion editorial was written by by Bob Marsocci.
Imagine walking your dog along a vibrant riverfront trail. Picture your children biking safely while their grandparents rest under shade trees next to blue herons wading through restored wetlands. Envision horse riders on trails that connect neighborhoods to nature, celebrating our river rather than hiding it.
This isn’t a pipe dream — it’s what cities across America have achieved by transforming neglected waterfronts into community treasures. And Long Beach has one final opportunity to join them.
But only if our Planning Commission votes “No” on June 5.
The choice couldn’t be starker. A developer wants to build another self-storage facility, RV parking lot, car wash and wastewater dumping station at 3701 Pacific Place — the last river-adjacent site that could become parkland for Long Beach families. Long Beach already has 20 self-storage facilities. LA County has over 200. Yet how many parks do we have overlooking the river?
The numbers expose a brutal truth about environmental injustice in our city. Western and northern Long Beach residents have access to barely 1 acre of parkland per thousand people — just 10% of what public health experts recommend. Meanwhile, eastern Long Beach enjoys nearly 17 acres per thousand residents. The disparity is evident; and has the strong potential to negatively impact the health of residents in the area.
that would bring a self-storage facility, RV parking, a car wash and more to 12 acres
along the Los Angeles River in Long Beach, which has long been planned for green space in the westside. (Kristen Farrah Naeem | Signal Tribune)
Communities in western and northern Long Beach already endure Southern California’s most toxic air quality and face life expectancies 5-10 years shorter than East Long Beach. We’ve watched industrial developments surround our neighborhoods while green space remained an impossible dream. We’re hoping for a miracle — and for common sense to prevail — to add much needed greenspace in our community.
For nearly two decades, Long Beach has promised us better. Since 2007, every major city and county plan — the RiverLink Plan, West Long Beach Livability Implementation Plan, LA River Master Plan, and Lower LA River Revitalization Plan — has designated this precious parcel for open space, not industrial storage. We hope these promises are realized.
Other cities prove transformation is possible. Seattle converted industrial waterfronts into the stunning Olympic Sculpture Park. San Francisco turned old piers into beloved Crissy Field. Columbus, Ohio created miles of riverfront trails that became the heart of downtown revitalization. Houston transformed concrete bayous into linear parks that boosted property values and community health. Even Los Angeles has reclaimed old rail yards for river greenspace.
Long Beach adopted the RiverLink vision, promising an integrated open space system along the LA River’s ten-mile journey through our community. Multiple agencies and countless advocacy hours have focused on creating the balanced development our neighborhoods desperately need. Approving this self-storage project would permanently abandon that vision.
that would bring a self-storage facility, RV parking, a car wash and more to 12 acres
along the Los Angeles River in Long Beach, which has long been planned for green space in the westside. (Kristen Farrah Naeem | Signal Tribune)
The 51-mile Los Angeles River shouldn’t be a dumping ground for industrial uses. It should be celebrated as our region’s natural backbone, connecting communities through beautiful, accessible green corridors that improve public health, boost property values and draw visitors for recreation and nature.
This decision will echo through generations. For Long Beach, this represents our last chance to add riverside parkland in our lifetimes. When we’re gone, will our grandchildren inherit the same pattern of short-sightedness, pollution, and neglect? Or will they thank us for finally choosing their health over developer profits?
Our community will be watching on June 5. We’re asking Planning Commissioners to demonstrate that Long Beach is serious about the environment, serious about keeping past promises and serious about creating the equitable, healthy city we all deserve.
The choice is clear: Environmental equity or yet another industrial facility in an already overburdened community? Parks or pollution? Residents or revenue? Equity or expediency?
The river — and our future — are counting on you.
What You Can Do:
- Sign the Petition: The Riverpark Coalition has a petition on its website addressed to the mayor and city council, opposing the development on 3701 Pacific Place. The coalition also has a sample letter to send directly to your respective city council representative.
- Write to the Planning Commission: Written testimony can be sent directly to the Planning Commission by emailing PlanningCommissioners@longbeach.gov, amy.harbin@longbeach.gov, and LBDS-EIR-Comments@longbeach.gov.
- Attend the Planning Commission Meeting: On June 5, the City of Long Beach’s Planning Commission will meet to vote to approve or deny the EIR for the development at 3701 Pacific Place. Residents can attend the meeting either in-person or online and speak out during public comment. Meetings occur at the Long Beach Civic Center, located at 411 W Ocean Blvd. and begin at 5 p.m.
Those attending in-person can fill out a speaker card at the start of the meeting. Those attending online can comment via Zoom by using the “raise hand” function, or via telephone by dialing “*9” on your phone.
NO COMMENTwill be allowed on agenda items. It’s a done deal.