Local nonprofit raising money to rebuild playground at Admiral Kidd Park in Long Beach

The burnt remains of the playground area of Admiral Kidd park in West Long Beach on July 20, 2021. Councilmember Roberto Uranga said the City is working to replace the burned play structure. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune

The nonprofit organization Partners of Parks (POP) is trying to raise $1 million to rebuild the playground at Admiral Kidd Park in Long Beach, which was burnt down on July 18.

Admiral Kidd Park is located on the west side of Long Beach, which has fewer parks in comparison to the east side of the city.

“It’s already in a park-poor community,” POP Executive Director Trinka Rowsell said. “Those kids are going to the playground, swinging on the swings, and they were staring at the burnt down debris with a fence around it and it was particularly tragic.”

In the early morning of July 18, the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) responded to a fire at the playground. It took LBFD 45 minutes to extinguish the flames, and the playground structure was left significantly damaged. It’s currently fenced off from the public.

The fundraising campaign will be held from Sept. 1 to Dec. 1, with different donation levels ranging from $2,500 to $250,000. Donations are being accepted in $25 increments. 

Different incentives are given to donors depending on how much they give, including the ability to purchase a commemorative brick in the pathway leading up to the park.

Those who donate $250,000 will have the opportunity to help name the playground.

“Our goal is to rebuild the playground with additional enhancements to 2021 standards and improvements based on input we received from the community,” Parks, Recreation, and Marine Director Brent Dennis said in a statement. 

POP supports activities, programs and events at Long Beach parks by gathering donations to benefit the Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine Department.

“Our role is to find the unmet needs for parks,” Rowsell said. “And this was like the perfect opportunity for us to step in and do something amazing and rally the community around it. So we’re very excited.”

The nautical-themed playground was opened in 2011 in Admiral Kidd Park, at 2125 Santa Fe Avenue in Long Beach. It was named after Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd, who was killed in 1941 in the attack on Pearl Harbor.

“Our community is already lacking green space and now our children have nowhere to play,” Councilmember Roberto Uranga said in a statement. “I want this playground rebuilt as quickly as possible and I’m committed to supporting Partners of Parks in their fundraising efforts and to rallying local businesses to share their support.”

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