The City of Long Beach invites community members to the grand opening celebration of the new Junipero Beach Sports Court, taking place at 4 p.m. Saturday at Junipero Beach (2630 E. Ocean Blvd.). The event will feature remarks from Mayor Richardson, Second District Councilwoman Cindy Allen and other city leaders followed by a ceremonial ribbon cutting and open use of the new amenities.
“The Junipero Beach Sports Court is more than just a space for recreation and play—it is a hub of community connection that underscores our commitment to providing vibrant, healthy spaces for all,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “We appreciate the community’s patience and continued enthusiasm for this project. We are thrilled to see this vision come to life with upgraded amenities that will provide fun, new ways to stay active and engaged on our beautiful coastline.”
An Elevate ’28 project, the Junipero Beach Sports Court project development includes a dedicated roller-skating area, a full basketball court and integrated seating, complementing the existing half and full basketball courts.
“I am so excited to see the Junipero Beach Sports Court open to the community,” said Second District Councilwoman Cindy Allen. “This has been a highly anticipated project, and while unforeseen delays extended the timeline, the result is a fantastic recreational space for everyone to enjoy. I want to thank the Coastal Commission, along with our Public Works and Parks, Recreation and Marine Departments, for their hard work in bringing this vision to life. As a skater myself, I’m especially thrilled to see our city’s first skate park on the sand become a reality.”
Managed by the Department of Public Works, construction of the upgraded facilities began in January 2024 and was completed in early March 2025. The grand opening of the Junipero Beach Sports Court was originally slated for September 2024, but construction was delayed due to unforeseen factors such as complexities of the custom shade structure and vendor onboarding.
The project is funded by $1 million in Tidelands Capital Improvement funds, of which funds are restricted to improvements along the coast and cannot be used for other purposes, as well as $150,000 awarded by the National Fish and Wildlife Fund’s South Coast Shoreline Parks and Outdoor Recreation Grants Program.
Elevate ’28 is a comprehensive five-year infrastructure initiative designed to revitalize parks and community facilities while enhancing accessibility and multimodal transportation throughout Long Beach. For more information about Elevate ‘28, visit lbelevate28.com.
More information about the Junipero Sports Court Project is available at longbeach.gov/juniperosportsproject.
