Community News

1K & 5K Run/Walk

The Rotary Club of Long Beach and Rotary Club of Signal Hill present Rotary Route  – a community 1K and 5K Walk/Run for Mental Health Awareness.

Join the community on Sunday, May 31, 9 a.m. to noon at Granada Beach for a morning focused on wellness, awareness and support. The event will feature more than 15 mental health and community resource vendors providing free information and services to attendees.

The expo is free and open to the public. Walk participation is available with an optional donation benefiting mental health services in Long Beach.

Info: (562) 335-5661.

Pool Groundbreaking

The City of Long Beach invites community members to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Belmont Plaza Pool, a major public infrastructure project that will establish a modern and community-centered aquatics complex along the city’s coastline. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Saturday, May 30, at Termino Avenue and Olympic Plaza.

Parking will be available at the Belmont Memorial Pier Lot (3998 E. Allin St.) for the duration of the event.

The new facility will feature two bodies of water: a 50-meter outdoor competition pool with a movable bulkhead to allow flexible programming for lap swimming, training and events; as well as a separate recreational and instructional pool featuring a zero-depth entry, spray features and dedicated space for swim instruction and water play. Additional amenities will include shaded spectator seating, bleachers, locker rooms, showers, family changing areas and public restrooms.

Accessibility and inclusivity are central to the design and future operations. Features include universal access components such as zero-depth entry, pool lifts, accessible restrooms and family changing rooms. Once open, the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) will launch an equity-focused Public Access Program providing expanded youth programs, seasonal activities, transportation support, partnerships with schools and community groups, and reduced-cost lessons and admission.

The project incorporates coastal resiliency features such as native dune landscaping and sustainable building practices aimed at achieving LEED Silver certification. The city recently completed the design, environmental review and permitting processes, including California Coastal Commission approval and certification of the city’s Public Access Program.

The new aquatics facility is expected to open ahead of the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games. It will replace the historic Belmont Plaza Pool, which opened in 1968 and served more than 200,000 visitors annually before closing in 2013 due to seismic concerns. Since the pool was demolished in 2014, the city has worked closely with residents, community organizations and technical experts to refine the project’s scope and design. In January 2025, the city hosted a community meeting to share updated plans, renderings, cost information and anticipated timelines.

PRM currently operates three public pools, Silverado Park Pool, Martin Luther King, Jr. Park Pool and the temporary Belmont Pool, which offer open swim sessions, numerous aquatics classes and youth camps. In 2025, nearly 64,000 patrons visited city pools for lap and recreational swimming, emphasizing the ongoing interest and community need in investing in aquatics facilities.

The project will deliver long-term community benefits while maintaining fiscal responsibility. The current design has been refined to align with available funding while preserving essential programming, accessibility features and community-serving amenities. Funding is provided primarily through the city’s Tidelands Funds and authorized appropriations, with a remaining funding gap identified and addressed through ongoing financial planning. Tidelands Funds are restricted dollars and can only be spent on projects along the coast, according to State law.

For more information on total costs, financing details and to view the final facility design, visit BelmontPool.com.

World Cup Match Viewing

The City of Long Beach, in partnership with LA Galaxy and Downtown Long Beach (DTLB) Alliance, announced expanded event details for its upcoming LA Galaxy Soccer Celebration, a free series of soccer events and experiences in Downtown Long Beach for people of all ages.

Beginning June 11, the celebration will feature a full slate of free, community-centered programming during the group stages of the tournament. Events will take place along Pine Avenue in Downtown, with larger activations to also include parts of Broadway and Lincoln Park. As part of the programming, the city, LA Galaxy and DTLB Alliance will host marquee events that will feature the full activation experience, including live FIFA World Cup 26 match viewings, Galaxy player and alumni appearances, youth programming, family-friendly fan areas, giveaways, limited-edition merchandise offerings, sponsor activations, music and more.

All events are free and open to the public. For the full schedule of viewing opportunities, visit longbeach.gov/SoccerInTheLBC.

As part of the celebration, the city and LA Galaxy will also host free youth soccer clinics, offering local youth opportunities to learn new skills and enhance existing skills through group play, drills and friendly competition. Led by LA Galaxy Youth coaches, these clinics will take place June 12 from 3 to 5 p.m. and June 19 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Lincoln Park (101 Pacific Ave.).

Available for youth ages 6 to 10 and 11 to 14, these clinics will offer one hour of guided activities and play. After the clinics, participants are encouraged to stick around for the FIFA World Cup 26 watch party as the United States takes on Paraguay (June 12) and Australia (June 19).

Registration for the clinics is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to register early as space is limited. Participants will need to select their preferred date and time, based on age. Complimentary parking will be available in the Civic Center public parking garage located at 332 W. Broadway.

“This summer is a unique moment for our sport, and we’re focused on showing up in a big way for our fans and communities across the region,” said Tom Braun, president and chief operating officer of the LA Galaxy. “By expanding the scope of the soccer celebration with more programming and more ways to engage, we’re creating a consistent place for people to come together, experience the game and be part of something that feels truly special.”

Following the group stage, the city will also host a variety of free, exciting soccer programming and live match viewings during the knockout stage of the tournament at local parks across the city. These events will offer residents chances to gather, connect and celebrate soccer in a relaxed, family-friendly environment.

The city’s extensive local soccer programming will culminate on July 19 with an open streets event to celebrate the tournament’s final match. Hosted by the city and presented by Metro, this one-day event will open streets in multiple neighborhoods across Long Beach, transforming them into safe, open areas for people to bike, walk and explore. More information about these free local events will be announced by the city in the coming weeks.

With these events and experiences, the city is embracing the opportunity to contribute to the regional energy surrounding the tournament through an inclusive, community-focused approach to programming, all at no cost. This approach will bring the excitement to communities across Long Beach while providing the flexibility to partner with local organizations to incorporate youth sports programming, interactive activities, local businesses and cultural celebrations that reflect Long Beach’s diversity and love of sports.

To stay updated, visit the city’s summer soccer programming webpage at longbeach.gov/SoccerInTheLBC.

Baseball Concessionaire

The Long Beach Coast named Trademark Brewing, a locally owned brewery and taproom, the official concessionaire of the club ahead of its inaugural season at historic Blair Field.

Founded in Long Beach by husband-and-wife team Sterling Steffen and Ilana Steffen, Trademark Brewing will oversee all food and beverage operations throughout the ballpark, bringing a distinctly Long Beach flavor to the Coast game day experience.

Fans can expect a lineup of signature menu items created exclusively for the season, including the 9th Inning Smash Burger, Elote Street Corn Cup and “The Regulator” loaded hot dog, alongside a curated selection of Trademark Brewing craft beers available throughout the stadium.

In addition to featuring Trademark Brewing favorites, the partnership will also spotlight the city’s thriving craft beer scene through a rotating tap program showcasing breweries from across Long Beach throughout the season.

The partnership represents a major investment in elevating the fan experience at Blair Field while continuing the club’s emphasis on supporting local businesses and highlighting Long Beach culture.

“One of our goals from day one has been to create an experience that feels authentically Long Beach,” said Paul Freedman, co-founder of the Long Beach Coast. “Trademark Brewing embodies the creativity, community spirit and local pride that make this city special. We’re excited for fans to enjoy incredible food, local craft beer and high-quality entertainment right here at home.”

For Trademark Brewing, the partnership marks an expansion of the brewery’s footprint within the city while introducing its brand and hospitality experience to thousands of baseball fans throughout the inaugural season.

Throughout the season, Trademark Brewing will also be featured through in-stadium branding, specialty hospitality offerings and collaborative fan experiences tied to the partnership.

The Long Beach Coast home opener is set for June 2 at Blair Field.