After seeking the public’s input nearly two years ago, City of Long Beach crews continue to work on the Junipero Beach Sports Court post-rain, where the new roller rink area and basketball court have begun to take shape. Upon completion with landscaping, the newly minted space will take over the empty lot that currently sits next to the half- and full basketball court at the recreational beachside space.
The Junipero Beach Sports Court has been a few years in the making
A roller skate park? Another kids’ area? A bigger basketball court? The ideas surrounding the use of the massive, empty lot at Junipero Beach have been discussed by city officials and planners for years—and before its survey ended in July of 2022, the City of Long Beach was asking the public to consider two options.
“Option 1” included a derby-sized skate area, a separately constructed basketball court, and 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—with an additional kids play zone, a separately constructed basketball court, and re-striping the existing court for two pickleball courts.
The first option is what is moving forward, with integrated seating to be included for the rink area and basketball court.
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 biggest update in decades, with the city upgrading the beach’s amenities via three junctions: Alamitos Beach, Junipero Beach, and Granada Beach. (Bayshore Drive, which will see a Grill ‘Em All coming to the space at Horny Corner, is technically included; however, it will not be receiving 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 is 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 is the sole space to have yet to see much activity but there is a plan: Croatian business owner Igor Montanari-Knez will be opening Monty’s, a dog owner-meets-dog space that will provide amenities for the owners and treats for the pups as the space will be directly next to Rosie’s Dog Beach.
For updates on the Junipero Beach Sports Court, click here.
This article was originally published on January 27, 2024. It was updated on April 2, 2024.
