City of Long Beach to Host Community Meeting on Martin Luther King Jr. Park Projects

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PRESS RELEASE

Above: Statue of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., titled "I Have a Dream," which is located near the community center (left) at Martin Luther King Jr. Park.

Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach Departments of Public Works and Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) invites community members to attend a community meeting to learn more about improvements planned at Martin Luther King Jr. Park. The meeting will take place on Monday, May 18, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Martin Luther King Jr. Park Community Center (1950 Lemon Ave.).

The Department of Public Works is advancing improvements at Martin Luther King Jr. Park through two coordinated projects that will deliver both near-term upgrades and long-term enhancements. At the meeting, attendees will have the opportunity to review and learn more about the proposed improvements, ask questions and share input to help shape the future of this important community resource. Interpretation services will be provided in Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog.

Planned improvements include a roof replacement for the community center and restroom renovations. The Martin Luther King Jr. Park Planning, Restroom Renovation and Critical Repairs to Community Center project will also ensure the facility's code compliance and safety, improved functionality, accessibility and comfort for park users.

At the same time, the Martin Luther King Jr. Park Improvements project will carry out enhancements that address core recreation, access and immediate community needs, envisioned through the Martin Luther King Jr. Park Vision Plan (Plan). Adopted by the Long Beach City Council in 2024, the Plan was developed through a collaborative, community-driven process led by PRM in partnership with the King Park Steering Committee, the Long Beach Alliance, Food Fitness, the Boys and Girls Club of Long Beach and City Fabrick. The effort identified key priorities for the park's future and, with additional input from Friends of Martin Luther King Park, a neighborhood group that grew out of the King Park Steering Committee, now serves as the foundation for the draft conceptual design.

Construction on both projects is expected to begin in summer 2026. For project updates and timeline information, visit the project webpage. The Martin Luther King Jr. Planning, Restroom Renovation, and Critical Repairs to the Community Center project will start with the roof replacement, while the Martin Luther King Jr. Park Improvements project will begin with playground enhancements.

These projects represent a substantial investment in the future of this vital community asset and further advance the City's long-term vision for the site. The Martin Luther King Jr. Park Planning, Restroom Renovation, and Critical Repairs to the Community Center project is funded through Measure A and a Congressional earmark secured by Representative Robert Garcia. The Martin Luther King Jr. Improvements project is supported by Measure A, Construction and Demolition funds, and Park Impact Fees.

Current available funding, totaling over $5 million, will support this initial phase of improvements, with subsequent phases to be implemented as additional funding is secured. These projects build upon prior capital investments, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Park Swimming Pool Upgrades completed in June 2025 and the Central Health WIC Facility Improvements completed in April 2023.These projects are included in the Elevate '28 Infrastructure Investment Plan, which has grown to over $1 billion in funding for nearly 200 projects designed to revitalize parks and community facilities while enhancing accessibility and multimodal transportation throughout Long Beach. More information about the historic investment in infrastructure currently underway is available at lbelevate28.com.

For more information, and to sign up for project updates, visit lbcity.info/MLKJrParkProjects.

Media inquiries may be directed to Jocelin Padilla-Razo, Community Information Officer, Department of Public Works, at 562.570.4668 or [email protected].

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