Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine Celebrates Parks Make Life Better® Month

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PRESS RELEASE

Above: Young participants of the Model Boat Shop camp enjoy an afternoon of friendly competition at Colorado Lagoon where campers raced the model sailboats they made during their week of camp. Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine offers more than 2,800 recreation classes, activities, sports and leagues annually for people of all ages, abilities and interests.

Long Beach, CA - This July, the City of Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) is celebrating Parks Make Life Better® Month, recognizing the essential role parks and recreation play in fostering healthy, connected and thriving communities. Led by the California Parks and Recreation Society (CPRS), the statewide recognition showcases how recreation agencies create community through people, parks and programs.

"Parks and recreation are at the heart of a thriving community," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "This month, we celebrate the dedicated professionals who make these spaces welcoming and accessible, and we honor the vital role our Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine plays in helping our community live healthier, happier and more connected lives."

PRM oversees the care, stewardship and programming for hundreds of parks, open spaces and recreation facilities that enrich the physical, mental and social wellness of Long Beach residents. From maintaining 166 parks, 81 playgrounds, nine skate parks, five golf courses, three community pools, 69 tennis courts, 24 pickleball courts, nearly 300 acres of nature preserves and wetlands to offering more than 2,800 recreation classes and programs each year, PRM ensures people of all ages and interests have opportunities to play, learn and enjoy the outdoors. Additionally, the department maintains the quality and health of seven scenic beaches, over six miles of shoreline, and operates the largest municipally run marina system in the country, which includes more than 3,350 boat slips and three marinas. PRM also includes Long Beach Animal Care Services, which enriches the wellbeing of people and pets in Long Beach, Signal Hill and Cerritos through Compassion Saves, outreach, education, guidance and support services.

"As a department, we see every day how parks and recreation uplift our community," said Director of Parks, Recreation and Marine Stephen P. Scott. "By providing safe places for residents to be active, opportunities to connect with neighbors, and moments of peace in nature, our Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine enriches the physical, mental and social wellbeing of our community. This month, and every day, we celebrate the power of these shared spaces and the dedicated staff who bring them to life."

Mayor Richardson and the Long Beach City Council will recognize July as Parks Make Life Better® Month during its Tuesday, July 21 City Council meeting. Community members are encouraged to attend the meeting to show their support. The meeting begins at 5 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall (411 W. Ocean Blvd.).

In honor of Parks Make Life Better® Month, PRM is encouraging the community to join in the celebration by:

• Enjoying PRM's many summer events such as a Movies in the Park, the Long Beach Municipal Band or an El Dorado Nature Center Concert. A full list of summer events and activities is available at lbcity.info/lbsummer and on the City Events Calendar.
• Visiting a neighborhood park, beach, nature trail or other open space throughout the month.
• Taking a summer recreation class. With more than 700 offerings, Recreation Connection has something for all ages, abilities and interests.
• Following us on social. Throughout July, PRM will highlight the many ways Parks Make Long Beach on social media. Follow @LongBeachParks on Facebook, Instagram and X and join the celebration by sharing photos and videos from your favorite PRM facilities using the hashtags #ParksMakeLifeBetter and #ParksMakeLongBeach.

Discover PRM's full lineup of parks, facilities, programs and services available for the Long Beach community at LBParks.org.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. More information about the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine is available at LBParks.org and by following us @LongBeachParks on Facebook, Instagram and X.

For more news, pictures, videos and announcements of what's happening in Long Beach, follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and YouTube.