Free, Low-Cost Youth Programs Extended

Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) will offer more sessions through February for four important programs that safely engage youth, including a Mobile Recess Program, After School Camps, Community Learning Hubs and a Virtual After School Program. Registration for these free and low-cost sessions begins at 10 a.m. today.

Mobile Recess Program

The free Mobile Recess Program will continue to be offered through Feb. 26 (closed Jan. 18 and Feb. 15).

PRM staff will drive trucks loaded with supplies and equipment to designated neighborhood streets and provide activities for youth ages 5 through 14 (Grades K-8). The streets will be blocked off for safety. Activities include physical fitness activities and arts and crafts. Space is limited and advance signups are required. All sign-ups are on a first come, first served basis.

Registration for these new sessions begins at 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 15, in person at the sites or via longbeach.gov/park. For more information, people may call (562) 570-3226. The locations and schedules are as follows:

Monday & Wednesday Sites (3 p.m. to 5 p.m.)

• Hellman Street between Orange Avenue and Cerritos Avenue
• 11th Street between Dawson Avenue and St. Louise Avenue
• 67th Way between Orcutt Avenue and Muriel Avenue
• Tuesdays & Thursdays Sites (3 p.m. to 5 p.m.)
• 17th Street between Henderson Avenue and Chestnut Avenue
• 8th Street between Gladys Avenue and Freeman Avenue
• Jackson Street Between Orange Avenue and Walnut Avenue
• Friday Sites (3 p.m. to 5 p.m.)
• 23rd Street between Cedar Avenue and Chestnut Avenue
• Parade Street between Harbor Avenue and Fashion Avenue
• Burton W. Chace Park in the park space
• After School Camps
• Camps for children ages 5 to 12 years old continue on weekdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. through Feb. 26 (closed Jan. 18 and Feb. 5). Campers can enjoy fun new games that follow COVID-19 safety guidelines.
• The camps will take place at the following parks:
• Bixby Park, 130 Cherry Ave.
• Cesar E. Chavez Park, 401 Golden Ave.
• College Estates Park, 808 Stevely Ave.
• Coolidge Park, 352 E. Neece St.
• Drake Park, 951 Maine Ave.
• El Dorado Park West, 2800 N. Studebaker Rd.
• Houghton Park, 6301 Myrtle Ave.
• MacArthur Park, 1321 E. Anaheim St.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Park, 1950 Lemon Ave.
• McBride Park, 1550 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.
• Orizaba Park, 1435 Orizaba Ave.
• Pan American Park, 5157 E. Centralia St.
• Ramona Park, 3301 E. 65th St.
• Scherer Park, 4600 Long Beach Blvd.
• Silverado Park, 1545 W. 31st St.
• Somerset Park, 1500 E. Carson St.
• Stearns Champions Park 4520 E. 23rd St.
• Veterans Park, 101 E. 28th St.
• Wardlow Park, 3457 Stanbridge Ave.
• Whaley Park, 5620 E. Atherton St.
• Online registration begins at 10 a.m. on Jan. 15. In-person registration is available between the hours of 8 a.m. and noon on Jan. 15 at the following sites:
• Parks, Recreation and Marine Administrative Office, 2760 N. Studebaker Rd.
• Pan American Park, 5157 E. Centralia St.
• King Park Pool, 1910 Lemon Ave.
• Belmont Plaza Pool, 4320 E. Olympic Plaza

For in-person registration after Jan. 15, please call 562.570.3150 to make an appointment. The weekly cost is $10 per person. Financial assistance is available on a first-come, first served basis.

 Community Learning Hubs

The Community Learning Hubs will continue to offer free sessions in Feb. for distance learning and after-school activities for kindergarten to eighth grade Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) students.

The free Community Learning Hubs will provide a safe space with high-speed internet for students to complete distance learning assignments during the school day. Youth will also have the option to participate in safe and enriching after-school activities, including academic support, sports, fitness and more.

The Community Learning Hubs will be available weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Feb. 26 (closed Jan. 18 and Feb. 15) at the following locations:

• Ernest McBride Park & Cal Rec. Community Center, 1550 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.
• Houghton Park, 6301 Myrtle Ave.
• Orizaba Park, 1435 Orizaba Ave.
• Veterans Park, 101 E. 28th St.

All health and safety protocols will be implemented at the learning hub locations and participants will be required to wear face coverings and adhere to physical distance guidelines. Participants must bring their own electronic device and lunch.

Online registration begins at 10 a.m. on Jan. 15. In-person registration begins on Jan. 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at each of the camp locations listed above.

In-person program safety protocols include: 

• Limiting the number of participants at each event.
• Maintaining no larger than 12:1 participant-to-staff ratio.
• Implementing physical distancing protocols including check-in and check-out.
• Cleaning and sanitizing all high-touch areas frequently.
• Requiring face coverings for participants and staff.

Virtual After School Program

The Virtual After School Program will continue on weekdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. through Feb. 26 (closed Jan. 18 and Feb. 15).

This free program will continue to enhance the virtual recreation experience with many engaging and fun activities plus academic enrichment activities to supplement the virtual learning environment offered by LBUSD.

The Virtual After School Program will offer kids ages 5 to 14 activities that can be experienced from the comfort of home including live “meets” with recreation staff, academic support, dance, art, trivia and much more within a three-hour period each day.

Registration opens on Jan. 15 at 8 a.m.

1. Visit longbeach.gov/parks

2. Find the Virtual After School Program registration link

3. Fill out the registration form

4. Wait for your welcome email!

In person registration will be available on Jan. 15 at Heartwell Park, 5801 E. Parkcrest St., from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

For additional information about these programs and other activities for youth, visit longbeach.gov/parks or call (562) 570-3150.