Santa Cruz Park

A Slice of Long Beach History

Stretching along Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach, California, Santa Cruz Park offers a modest yet charming 1.9-acre green retreat between Cedar and Golden Avenues. This little urban oasis has quite the backstory, dating back to the early 20th century.

From Bluff Park to Santa Cruz

What we now know as Santa Cruz Park started its journey as Bluff Park No. 1, courtesy of the Long Beach Development Company. In 1919, after the city received additional bluff-top land, the western section was christened with its current name. The park's appearance has shifted with the decades, seeing significant changes during the 1920s and in more recent times.

The Olmstead Touch

In 1923, the park got the attention of the Olmstead Brothers - landscape architects who were kind of a big deal. They envisioned a 1.16-acre space featuring a central lawn embraced by trees, shrubs, and flower beds. While some of their ideas made it from paper to reality, others - like a proposed sand court partially shaded by a trellis - remained just beautiful concepts.

Saved by the Community

The 1960s weren't kind to Santa Cruz Park, which was temporarily abandoned during area redevelopment. But sometimes it takes a village - or in this case, dedicated citizens who, in the late 1970s, rallied to protect the park's mature trees and advocate for its official reinstatement as a public space.

Today's Tranquil Escape

Now, Santa Cruz Park represents a green buffer between busy Ocean Boulevard and the surrounding office buildings. While it doesn't have formal seating areas, its clean, open grassy spaces and shade trees offer a wonderful spot for a moment of calm amid urban life.

The park represents part of Long Beach's commitment to maintaining accessible public spaces in the downtown area. If you're looking to visit this little piece of history and greenery, you can drop by any day between 6AM and 8PM.