Local labor union Teamsters 848 wants to transform a 4-acre vacant lot near the Long Beach Airport into a “playground with no bounds.”
The lot has been vacant at least since the 1960s and has become a dumping ground and an eyesore, Teamsters member Eric Tate said. The lot located between 2301 and 2322 Cover St. is adjacent to the Teamsters 848 office.
City staff was directed at last week’s city council meeting to study the possibility of building a playground in the lot and report back to the council within four months.
Teamsters 848 has been working to get this project off the ground for the past two years, but for Tate, he saw the need decades ago while taking his son to local playgrounds. Tate’s son is in a wheelchair and had scarce options of activities he could do at playgrounds.
“It always seemed like a cruel joke to me that they put handicap parking and then you get there and there’s nothing for them to do but sit there and watch everyone else have fun,” Tate said.
He said his son would eventually work up the strength to do certain things other children could do at playgrounds, but the need always stuck with Tate. Even now that his son is in his 30s, he still loves to play. A playground with no bounds would allow him and others with disabilities to do just that.
The vision for the playground is a space for kids and adults of all abilities, both developmental and physical. Features would include a rubberized ground cover, wheelchair access, multi-play equipment, roller slides, ground level play areas, calm spaces, signage and ramps instead of stairs. The playground would be located between the California Heights and Bixby Knolls neighborhoods.
Tate said they also want to hire adults on the autism spectrum to work at the playground and be a part of Teamsters 848, meaning they would receive union pay and benefits. Workers would help other kids and adults when they visit the playground, helping them out of their vehicles and to use the playground equipment.
Teamsters 848 hopes to become a field trip destination for local schools that cater to those with disabilities, and with the help of donations, they want to provide lunches on site as well.
About a dozen Teamsters 848 members went to Long Beach City Council on April 21 to advocate for the playground.
“We always welcome it when folks say, ‘Hey we’ll use our own resources to help create a public benefit,’” said Mayor Rex Richardson, adding that he wants to put “pedal to the medal” in getting this project approved.
Councilmember Megan Kerr explained there “may be legal or safety challenges” in using the space for recreation given its proximity to the airport.
To address this challenge, Tate said they plan to dig two stories deep and build a subterranean playground. This would not only mitigate noise level for those with sensory needs, but also provide some protection for visitors in the event that a plane fails to take off and enters the Cover Street area.
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The cost of the playground was not discussed at last Tuesday’s meeting, but the project would be sponsored by Teamsters 848.
Kerr asked City staff to also provide a list of city-owned lots that could possibly be turned into a playground with no bounds if the lot on Cover Street isn’t feasible.
A playground that’s “accessible and welcoming to all individuals of physical and cognitive abilities” aligns with the City’s goals of expanding equity, accessibility and community wellness, according to a City staff report.
