Long Beach Parks, Recreation and Marine ‘Be S.A.F.E.’ Program Wins California Parks and Recreation Society Award of Excellence

Long Beach, CA

The Parks, Recreation and Marine’s Be S.A.F.E. program (Summer Activities in a Friendly Environment) was named an “Award of Excellence” winner in the category of Neighborhood Building in the annual California Park & Recreation Society’s (CPRS) Awards program.

“The Be S.A.F.E. program is a critical component of the City’s Safe Long Beach Initiative and healthy active lifestyle goals,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “By keeping selected parks activated in the evening hours, families have positive and safe activities to enjoy together and social connections in the neighborhood grow stronger.”

The Be S.A.F.E. program:

• Helps to reduce crime in neighborhoods by extending supervision hours at designated parks during the evening in the summer and employing neighborhood youth
• Gives families positive and safe activities to enjoy together
• Strengthens social connections throughout neighborhoods
• Offers recreation programs such as arts and crafts, outdoor games, sports, science activities and dance programs; classes in fitness, cooking, gardening and flower arranging; and computer labs that appeal to youth and families.

“This statewide award is a wonderful acknowledgment by our peers about the great work that we are doing to keep our kids and community safe,” said Marie Knight, Director of Parks, Recreation and Marine.

During summer 2016, the Be S.A.F.E. program served more than 50,000 youth and adults at Admiral Kidd, Drake, Houghton, M. L. King Jr., Seaside, Scherer, and Silverado Parks. In summer 2017, the sites will be expanded to include Bixby, Pan American, Orizaba, and Ramona Parks.

CPRS Awards recognize the outstanding achievements of agencies and individuals in the areas of community improvements and programming, facility design and park planning, marketing and communications, and professional and citizen leadership.