City Council Votes to Dedicate Park 'In perpetuity'

Mayor Richardson, Councilmembers Kerr and Uranga, supporters of Willow Springs Park. Photo courtesy of Councilwoman Kerr.

---

On August 13, 2024, City Council voted unanimously 7-0 to formally dedicate Willow Springs Park.  The motion was brought forward by Councilwoman Megan Kerr of the 5th district, where the park is located.  Mayor Richardson, council members, the city manager, and Long Beach residents spoke warmly about the park.  Councilwoman Kerr stated, “For all of those who love the park out loud, and for those of you who are just discovering it, thank you for continuing to invest and advocate.”  
 
Councilwoman Kerr and the mayor acknowledged the presence of the Friends of Willow Springs Park (FOWSP) members and fellow organizations operating in the park, saying they knew tonight was a long time coming. Friends group members have advocated for the dedication since 2021 when the city removed Willow Springs Park from a list of designated parks.

Attendees representing organizations based in the park spoke directly to the city council.  Sasha Kanno, founder of Farm Lot 59, discussed teaching people organic gardening skills and distributing food to the community members who need it most.  Jacob Dickinson, member of the Long Beach Beekeepers, spoke about the local bees' genetic diversity that can be leveraged in future pollinator populations to ensure the success of crops.  Vanessa Covington, an alumnus of the youth program California Climate Action Corps, advocated for infrastructure and suggested its potential as a regional park.  This last point was echoed by Chris Chavez, a Long Beach Parks and Recreation Commissioner.  Mr. Dickinson, Ms. Covington, and Mr. Chavez are also members of the Friends of Willow Springs Park.
 
Nine members of Friends of Willow Springs Park spoke in support of the motion.  Themes included a strong sense of support, gratitude, and the need for continued financial support.  Mauna Eichner, co-chair of FOWSP, gave special thanks to Larry Rich, the Office of Climate Action & Sustainability’s liaison to FOWSP, for “discovering this spot and (who) had an inkling of what Willow Springs could become.” 

Mauna Eichner and Lee Fukui, co-chairs of FOWSP. Photo courtesy of Councilwoman Kerr

​
​The 48 acres of Willow Springs Park will be dedicated in two stages.  Parcel A, encompassing 46.2 acres, will be dedicated immediately, while Parcel B, the remaining 1.8 acres, will be put into a land bank. Parcel B will be dedicated when the City of Long Beach moves forward with projects in the downtown area that require the sale or development of park space.  Section 905 – Parks In Perpetuity states that dedicated park space must be replaced by other dedicated park space at a ratio of 2:1.  

Councilwoman Kerr announced the allocation of one million dollars in the upcoming 2025 fiscal year budget towards Willow Springs, for “developing more of the site into usable space.”   The million dollars would go towards an initiative called the Willow Springs Trailhead Project—which includes rebuilding the train depot that burned down by arson in 2016.
 
Continued financial support beyond the trailhead project was mentioned by several Friends.  One member named Katie stated, “I request that the city commit funding for the park in every yearly budget cycle.  This would represent a stronger commitment to the city’s equity goals by funding the restoration of a much-needed green space in a park-poor area of Long Beach.”  Currently, 16 acres of the park are usable for walking and other activities, but there are an additional 32 acres to be restored.  Councilwoman Kerr stated, “I am committed to continuing to work in good faith to allocate funds when the budget allows, and to push even when it might not.”
 
After the vote, park dedication will progress through the City Ordinance process which requires two more City Council actions. The next steps for the Friends of Willow Springs Park include gathering community stakeholders from government, private industry, and the general public, to update the current master plan, and create a shared vision for the park.

To watch the city council discussion on Willow Springs Park, visit the video recording and start at 1hr 35min.  The discussion is 45 minutes long. 
​