Death Of The Dust Bowl

The 19-acre Long Beach Dust Bowl is no more. The once dilapidated and eyesore of a recreation facility has been transformed into a multi-use track, football and soccer field.

With $9.9 million from the Los Angeles County Park and Open Space District, City of Long Beach Infrastructure funds, Open Space Bonds and a donation from Occidental Petroleum Corporation ($1 million).

Chittick Field remains an active stormwater management facility, and the renovation re-graded the existing bowl and added a low-flow drainage system, a pump station, and various stormwater treatment devices to meet current trash and bacteria reduction regulations.  Through this project, the Chittick Field site will be updated both as a park, and as a flood control detention basin and as a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) compliance site.  Bio-swales will be located at all the outfalls into the site and the updated system will include trash and bacteria reduction solutions. Native and drought tolerant landscaping with efficient irrigation are incorporated into the landscaping. Additionally, a bike path within the bowl will connect to the bike trail in the Pacific Electric right-of-way, which will continue to improve upon the city's network of bike trails.

Construction began in April 2013, and the transformation of Chittick Field took one year. The transformation itself is surprising to say the least. Where cars once parked on the grass, you can now play soccer. The old light posts which leaned in various directions have been replaced with true stadium lights.  The regulation size football field has goal posts, not 4x4's that look like goal posts. The soccer field now has goal nets. There are new bathrooms, a new parking area, and the length of the field along Walnut Avenue is now concrete (or cement) bleachers. This was no simple add some paint and new chalk-lines maintenance job. It is truly a transformation.

Councilman Dee Andrews said, "If you see someone graffiti this park, don't call the police call ME. I will get here quicker. This is not no 'Bebe's Kids' park, and I won't see it get that way."

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe said. “We’ve had great cooperation from the City of Long Beach in our ongoing efforts to protect our communities from flood risk, while creating a beautiful recreational area.  This project is a great example of two government agencies working together to not only improve the aesthetics of the area, but enrich the quality-of-life for local residents.”

And Mayor Bob Foster was beaming and handing out accolades to all the supporters, shakers, and movers of the project right down to the people who will now be responsible for maintaining this new facility. And though Occidental Petroleum Corporation donated $1,000,000.00 to the project, there is still need for a scoreboard.

Three time Super Bowl winner and graduate of Long Beach Polytechnic High School Willie McGinest Jr., said, "We need a scoreboard." Willie was on hand with the Long Beach Browns to celebrate and start to break in the new field, as were students from his Alma-Mater.