El Dorado Park West Senior Center will now be known as the Dr. Thomas J. Clark Community Center in recognition of the legacy of the former Long Beach mayor and councilmember.
The Long Beach City Council unanimously voted to approve the recommendation at Tuesday’s meeting following an October vote of approval from the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Clark was elected to the council in 1966, representing the fourth district for 30 years, the longest-serving council member in the city’s history. He also served three terms as mayor of Long Beach starting in 1975.
Before his time in the council, Clark was part of the Parks and Recreation Commission in the early 60s and led the effort to obtain a bond for the purchase of the land that is now El Dorado Park West, according to the recommendation proposal.
“I had the ability to talk to Dr. Clark when he was still alive and asked him about what recognition [he’d] like to have and he said ‘If anyone wanted ever name something for me, I’d like it to be associated with El Dorado Park,’” Councilmember Daryl Supernaw said.
Clark died on May 6, 2020 at the age of 93.
“I think he’s someone who just leaves such an incredible legacy,” Mayor Robert Garcia said. “This is a great way of continuing to honor him. He’s someone that makes a lot of sense for this naming.”
At the time of the vote, the total cost for making and installing signage was unknown, however, the recommendation proposal noted that previous similar projects to replace existing facility signage were estimated between $20,000 and $30,000.
Until funding is identified, the making and installing of signage will not move forward.
Parks, Recreation and Marine is expected to return to the council after funding is identified to appropriate funding for the project, the recommendation proposal said.
