(April 6, 2012) -- A management level staffer in the CA Dept. of Parks & Recreation today (April 6) declined at this point to release, and LBReport.com has thus far been unable to obtain informally from LB City Hall, a copy of the grant application by which the City of Long Beach sought and obtained $2,833,281 to create what supporters call "Armory Park," a 0.84 acre patch of greenspace that would -- as described publicly last year by Councilman Robert Garcia -- require blocking off MLK Ave. entirely between 6th and 7th Streets.
As previously reported by LBReport.com, materials obtained under the CA Public Records Act indicate the City of Long Beach submitted an application to another state agency, CalTrans, requesting roughly $900,000 in traffic-improvement money in which the City represented that it would only block off one lane of northbound MLK, not two lanes...and explicitly represented that blocking off MLK entirely between 6th and 7th Streets was not recommended.
[City of LB traffic grant application]...To reduce injury collisions the project proposes to eliminate through traffic on MLK Avenue between Seventh and Sixth Streets by converting the roadway from a two-way to a one-way. South of Seventh Street MLK Avenue will be reduced from five lanes in two directions to only two northbound lanes. The northbound traffic will be channelized into two right-turn lanes at Seventh Street...
City staff and consultants have completed two traffic studies at the project site. The studies determined removing the southbound lanes on MLK Avenue and consolidating the signalized intersections would provide acceptable traffic operating conditions. Furthermore, the study showed the improvements would not result in reduced level of service.
An alternative plan evaluated by the City was to remove both northbound and southbound lanes on MLK Avenue between Sixth and Seventh Streets. In order to retain right-turn capacity, at this time, the City proposes only removing the southbound lanes. [emphasis added]
In summary, reconfiguring the traffic flow at the project site will address the most common injury collision patterns, broadside collisions, collisions involving northbound traffic, and collisions involving pedestrians without compromising intersection level of service. Furthermore, the City of Long Beach will leverage the safety improvement funds to create new open space in a park poor high-density area of downtown Long Beach.
To compare this to what the City of Long Beach told the state Department of Parks & Recreation (in seeking $2.8 million for Armory Park), LBReport.com asked to see the City's grant application on the matter. A management level staffer in the state's Parks & Recreation agency told us today (April 6) that the agency considers the grant process still competitive [on grounds some awardee may turn down its requested funds], declined to release the City's application for now and advised us to contact the City. [We submitted a formal Public Records Act request to the state agency to preserve our right to pursue this matter further with them].
LBReport.com also telephoned the City Hall's Park Development Officer (listed on city press release as contact), repeatedly reached voice mail and left a message that hasn't been returned as of 3:30 p.m.; we've also submitted a Public Records Act request to the City to ensure we get this information so we can report this story to its conclusion, one way or another.
Asked in May 2011 about what City Hall told one state agency in seeking traffic mitigation funds as compared to how he described Armory Park, Councilman Garcia told a website he co-created that it's the City's intention to eliminate all traffic lanes on MLK between 6th and 7th regardless of what the city stated in the traffic fixing grant application.
"Our plan is to take all of them (the five traffic lanes) out," LBPost.com quoted Garcia as saying in May 2011.
A City Hall press release today (April 6, 2012), quoting Mayor Foster and Councilman Garcia, as well as a separate mass emailing from Garcia, doesn't mention the apparent inconsistency and declares the project will move forward. LBReport.com publishes the City Hall release and Councilman Garcia's email dispatch text below.
[City of LB release text] The State of California recently awarded $5.3 million in grant funds to the City of Long Beach for park development activities at Armory Park, and Drake / Cesar Chavez Park.
"It is so gratifying to again add urban open space and grow our parks portfolio," said Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster. "The Drake/Chavez Greenbelt increases active recreational opportunities and bicycle connectivity while Armory Park is an incredibly creative, community-driven idea that has been 5 years in the making. Our focus on park space is paying off -- these are both huge wins for Long Beach residents and I can't wait to see these finished projects."
Long Beach faced fierce competition in this Statewide grant solicitation, as over 400 applicants submitted proposals that totaled $1.3 billion for a only $150 million of available Statewide Parks Program funding. Long Beach bested over 400 applicants, and will receive $5.3 million for park improvements at Armory Park, and Drake / Cesar Chavez Park.
"Building Armory Park has been a passion of mine since first coming into office, and I am delighted that the East Village will finally get its park," said First District Councilman Robert Garcia. "In addition, these grants will also fund phase one of the Drake/Chavez expansion that will include two new soccer fields and play areas."
Funding will assist with the development of Armory Park, a new 0.84 acre park at the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, Alamitos Avenue and Sixth Street. Armory Park will host a new playground, half-court basketball court, exercise equipment and skate elements – all features that have been popular at various parks through the City. Long Beach’s newest park will also feature an art garden and sustainable landscaping around a brand new multi-use plaza and amphitheater. These facilities will be available for community use, free of charge.
Improvements that are planned at Drake / Chavez Park feature a Greenbelt that will connect the two parks, and a parkway trail leading to Anaheim Street. These accessibility components, coupled with two new soccer fields that will be constructed in the future, will provide ample green space for positive recreation.
The City’s Parks, Recreation and Marine Department is a leader in the industry. Recognized for providing outstanding facilities, programs, and management that reflect the needs and interests of a diverse community, the National Parks and Recreation Society awarded Long Beach the prestigious Gold Medal Award. The City has held this recognition for the past three years, and will continue to uphold these values as new parks are developed in areas of need through the City.
[Garcia mass email text] The State of California just announced that they have awarded the City of Long Beach a total of $5.3 million for the development of two parks in the First District. These funds will fund the creation of the long awaited Armory Park in the East Village and Phase 1 of the Drake Park Expansion project.
Long Beach faced fierce competition in this Statewide grant solicitation, as over 400 applicants submitted proposals that totaled $1.3 billion for a limited amount of Statewide Parks Program funding. We bested over 400 applicants.
Armory Park has been a passion project of mine ever since my good friend and architect Brian Ulaszewski conceived it. He proposed this park over 5 years ago and has hosted dozens of community meetings and forums to engage the surrounding neighborhoods about the positive impact building a park in this location would have. In addition to solving safety issues, the new park will create green space in a neighborhood that has none.
When I was elected to office three years ago, I promised Brian that we would get this project done, and thanks to his dedication and ideas, we have taken a huge step forward. Armory Grant has been awarded $2.8 million that will be combined with an additional $900,000 that we have already been awarded to build this new park. The grant will allow us to reconfigure the corner of 7th and MLK, and begin to close down MLK from 7th to 6th to build the park. We will be turning the most dangerous intersection in Long Beach, into a beautiful green landscape.
In addition, we have also been awarded $2.5 million to begin Phase 1 of the Drake Park expansion project in the Willmore City Neighborhood. The state grant will fund building out two new soccer fields, walking trails, and play areas at Drake Park.
Mayor Bob Foster also released a statement today praising our Parks team, and I agree:
I am so proud of our Parks, Recreation and Marine Department staff for their continued success at securing grant dollars to improve our community. Being able to create additional open space and recreational opportunities is huge win for Long Beach and our residents. I look forward to breaking the ground of our new Armory Park and improved Drake/Cesar Chavez Park.
I will send more info as soon as I hear more. This is a great win for Long Beach, the East Village, and Willmore City.
Go Long Beach,
Robert Garcia
Further as we learn it.
