Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, 4th District Councilmember Patrick O’Donnell and the departments of Parks, Recreation & Marine and Public Works will host a grand-opening ceremony for the Orizaba Park Community Center on Saturday, Aug. 2 at 10 am. Orizaba Park is located at Orizaba Avenue and Spaulding Street.
“This new community center is a wonderful addition to Orizaba Park,” Garcia said. “The center will help bring the community together and provide space for recreation programs, meetings and events.”
O’Donnell said he is proud to have been a part of this and other projects that have enhanced the park and community. “A tired kid is a good kid, and the programs offered at the new community center— from digital design to computer coding— are sure to help them succeed in the classroom and workplace.”
A digital training academy at the new center is aimed to help workforce development by providing high-tech training in visual art, such as high-definition movies and website design, as well as training to create and make fliers, banners, newsletters, magazines, T-shirts, billboards, and other visual projects.
To reflect the history of the location as a stop on the former Pacific Electric Right of Way that bisects Orizaba Park, the 3,000-square-foot building is reminiscent of a train depot with its long shape and architecture.
The building has been designed to achieve a LEED Gold certification and reduce water and electricity consumption by over 30 percent compared to a traditionally designed building. The building was constructed with $2.2 million in Proposition 84 grant funds.
Orizaba Park is home to an art piece titled “The Train Has Left the Station,” which was designed and fabricated by local artist Patrick Vogel. The 12-foot-by-10-foot stainless-steel replica of the Red Car that historically ran from Long Beach to Los Angeles is also located on the former Pacific Electric Right-of-Way, and it memorializes the importance of trains in the City’s development.
The new community center completes the second phase of the park’s renovation. In January 2012, an expansion of the park opened. The former Long Beach Redevelopment Agency (RDA) invested $3.7 million to acquire four adjacent blighted industrial properties to add 1.1 acres to the park’s 2.62 acres and create a total of 3.72 acres of open space to expand the park.
The expansion included new open turf areas, landscaping, ball courts, a skate park, walking paths and picnic tables.
For information on the Orizaba Park Community Center Grand Opening event, call (562) 570-3150.
Source: City of LB
