After seeking the public’s input nearly two years ago and crews working steadfastly, the City of Long Beach is (finally) ready to unveil the first shoreside public roller rink in the city, along with some new basketball courts. While the court itself is set to open on Feb. 22, a formal grand opening will be held later—likely in March—according to 2nd District Office representative Mimi Masher.
The Junipero Beach Sports Courts is funded by $1M in Tidelands Capital Improvement funds. It was also recently awarded $150,000 from the National Fish and Wildlife Fund South Coast Shoreline Parks and Outdoor Recreation Grants Program to support native dune restoration and features. Upon completion of landscaping, the newly minted space will have an empty lot that sits next to the half- and full basketball courts, which are public access points to take over the recreational space.
The Junipero Beach Sports Court has been a few years in the making
A roller skate park? Another kids’ area? A more extensive basketball court? City officials have discussed the use of what was once an empty lot for years. Before its survey ended in July 2022, the City asked the public to consider two options.
“Option 1” included a derby-sized skate area and a separately constructed basketball court. It also called for re-striping the existing multi-use court to create two pickleball courts.
“Option 2” would have created a skate dance pad, not derby competition-sized. Along with this, an additional kids play zone, a separately constructed basketball court, and re-striping the existing court for two pickleball courts was included.
The move follows a string of beach amenity upgrades that have been built along the Long Beach coastline over the past few years
Long Beach’s waterfront has been undergoing its most significant update in decades, with the city upgrading its amenities via three junctions: Alamitos Beach, Junipero Beach, and Granada Beach. (Bayshore Drive, which saw Grill ‘Em All open in May of 2024, technically included; however, it did not receive an entirely new build-out per the other three.)
Junipero was the first of the three to receive its build-out, with an upgraded concessions stand that now includes a bike/utility rental station and a full-fledged restaurant, Saltwater Deck (an underrated gem if there was one in Long Beach, with solid sandwiches and burritos and a full beer and wine program—giving patrons something you can’t get anywhere else: food and drink with a seat directly on the sand).
The second—and by far most expensive: the City spent $9M building it out before any tenant improvements—is Alamitos Beach, where Gaucho Grill has created a three-concept space that includes a full bar and restaurant, a cafe, and a mini-market of to-go items.
Granada Beach was the last space to see activity: Croatian business owner Igor Montanari-Knez opened Monty’s back in April of 2024. A dog owner-meets-dog space, Monty’s provides amenities for the owners and treats for the pups as the space is directly next to Rosie’s Dog Beach.
This article was originally published on January 27, 2024. It has been continually updated since.
We’re teased with the public being asked whether they wanted Option One or Option Two. Both options included two pickleball courts (that Long Beach is woefully deficient in). No mention of how residents voted or how they were even asked. Reading between the lines, it looks like #2 was chosen (of course it was the most expensive of the two in keeping with Long Beach tradition) but no mention that all the items promised were completed. What was mentioned was a bicycle rental station and restaurants, both of which will bring money into city coffers (no surprise there). Sounds like a poorly re-written, obfuscatory press release by the city.
So which option was chosen because it doesn’t look like either one was fulfilled. You guys have taken forever with this thing and it’s gonna be a flop. It looks ridiculous