Santa Cruz Park

Santa Cruz Park is a small urban green space located in Long Beach, California. Originally established in the early 20th century, this park has undergone several transformations over the years. The park spans approximately 1.9 acres along Ocean Boulevard, providing a strip of greenery between Cedar Avenue and Golden Avenue.

Santa Cruz Park has an interesting history dating back to the Long Beach Development Company's dedication of what was initially known as Bluff Park No. 1. In 1919, when additional bluff top property was donated to the city, the western portion was renamed Santa Cruz Park. The park's design has evolved over time, with notable changes occurring in the 1920s and again in more recent years.

In 1923, the Olmstead Brothers, renowned landscape architects, designed a 1.16-acre park on the site. Their plan included a central lawn surrounded by trees, shrubs, and flowerbeds. While some elements of this design were implemented, others, such as a proposed sand court area with partial trellis shading, were not realized.

The park faced challenges in the 1960s when it was temporarily abandoned due to redevelopment efforts in the area. However, citizen activism in the late 1970s helped preserve some of the park's mature trees and led to the area being officially recognized as a public park once again.

Today, Santa Cruz Park serves as a green buffer between Ocean Boulevard and nearby office buildings. It offers residents and visitors a place for passive recreation and a brief respite from the urban environment. The park is part of Long Beach's ongoing efforts to maintain and improve public spaces in the downtown area.