Poetry readings? Pickleball courts? Tai chi? Long Beach asks what new senior center should offer
The city plans to relocate the Fourth Street facility to a newer building less than a mile away, with a projected opening in 2027.
As Long Beach makes plans to renovate a building that will house a relocated senior center as well as a police crime lab and city office space, the parks department is seeking feedback on what older adults want from a facility intended to serve them.
Indoor pickleball courts were the clear winner at a public workshop held Thursday, based on sticky notes residents placed on display boards at the meeting – one simply read, "I love playing pickleball". Other requests – some undoubtedly not in the current $9.8 million project budget – included a swimming pool, a movie theater or auditorium, classes in dance and gardening, a chess club and later evening hours.
Residents can still provide input on what should be offered at the new senior center, which will move from a 75-year-old building on Fourth Street near Orange Avenue to the first floor of a five-story building on Elm Avenue between Broadway and First Street.
A survey is available online or can be completed on paper at any city library or community center through Sept. 30, and five more public meetings to provide information and collect feedback will be held next week.
The pop-events are:
- Monday, Sept. 16 at noon at the El Dorado Senior Center;
- Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. at Silverado Park;
- Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Fourth Street senior center;
- Thursday at 11:15 a.m. at Houghton Park;
- Friday at 10:30 a.m. at McBride Park.
More information is available here.
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