Billie Jean King Main Library Unveils New Children’s Terrace in Downtown Long Beach

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PRESS RELEASE

Above: Attendees of the 2026 Celebration of the Young Child event walk along Billie Jean King Main Library's new Children's Terrace, a welcoming and family-centered space for the whole community to enjoy inclusive community programming and other events and activities; a child engages with books at a resource table on the Children's Terrace at the Celebration of the Young Child event.

Long Beach, CA - The Long Beach Public Library will host a ribbon-cutting and grand opening celebration for its new vibrant Children's Terrace, an inclusive, family-centered outdoor space at the Billie Jean King Main Library (200 W. Broadway) on Saturday, May 16, starting at 10 a.m. The Children's Terrace, the library's newest hub for community programming and organized activities, expands the library's commitment to creating welcoming environments where families can learn, play and connect. The event will feature remarks by Mayor Rex Richardson, First District Councilwoman Mary Zendejas and other City leadership, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and family-friendly activities.

"The Children's Terrace reflects our vision for a more family-friendly, connected Downtown Long Beach," said Mayor Richardson. "By investing in spaces that center children and creativity, we're strengthening the cultural fabric of our city and creating places where families can gather, learn and thrive."

Following the ceremony, attendees are invited to meet Filipino American children's author Rachell Abalos, who wrote "Our Nipa Hut: A Story in the Philippines." Children can also enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, including story time, water and bubble play, hands-on crafts and popsicles. Activity stations will offer families the opportunity to explore the space and celebrate together.

"We're very excited to reintroduce the terrace as a family-oriented hub that will reflect its original intended purpose of a vibrant space for connection and inclusion. The Children's Terrace is an investment in our children and our community-a place where families can gather, learn and grow together," said First District Councilwoman Mary Zendejas. "I'm proud to support spaces like this that make our Downtown more welcoming for all."

Designed to optimize use of the library's terrace and create a more welcoming and secure space for the whole community, the new children's area is enclosed by new fencing that complements the refreshed design. This new fencing-six feet tall along the West Broadway side and eight feet tall along the Pacific Avenue and Lincoln Park sides-will reduce noise, minimize indoor and visual interruptions and create a more secure space that supports positive, community-focused programming such as book sales, crafts, games, lunch programs and other family-friendly events.

"The new children's terrace expands our ability to diversify our youth programming, offering increased opportunities for creativity, art, and interactive play," said Cathy De Leon, Director of Library, Arts, and Culture. "It's a space where early learning, imagination, and outdoor play come together-inviting families to engage with the library in new and meaningful ways."

The Children's Terrace project was made possible by a collaboration between the Department of Library, Arts, and Culture, Long Beach Public Works and City leadership, reflecting a shared commitment to enhancing public spaces for residents of all ages. The project was funded by a $723,000 transfer of the General Fund to the Civic Center Fund in Fiscal Year 2024. These funds were dedicated to the design and construction of terrace improvements at the Billie Jean King Main Library. Before construction began in March 2026, outreach was conducted with community members and library patrons to share the plan for the Children's Terrace and to reaffirm the City's original vision for the terrace as a welcoming space for families to enjoy inclusive programming and events.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information about the event and upcoming Library programs, please contact the library at 562.570.7500 or visit lbpl.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. For more information about the Community Development Department, visit longbeach.gov/lbcd and follow @longbeachbuilds on Facebook, X and Instagram.

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