Long Beach : Private Firms Get Approval to Operate in City Parks

The City Council voted Tuesday to allow private companies to run recreational facilities in city parks.

Ralph S. Cryder, the city’s director of parks, recreation & marine, said that there are no firm plans for new facilities but that Long Beach has been approached by companies interested in building a soccer arena and racquetball courts in city parks. The city would lease the parkland to the companies, which hopes to make a profit on the facilities.

Long Beach has not leased parkland to private operators before, Cryder said. But it has leased similar property. A private company, for example, operates the city’s five golf courses.