TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file a report on the Hamilton Loop Vision Plan; and, accept Statutory Exemption SE-20-126. (District 9)
DISCUSSION
On July 24, 2018, the Uptown Open Space Vision Plan was adopted by the City Council, which identifies new and innovative opportunities to fill the need for publicly-accessible open space and recreation facilities in Long Beach’s Ninth City Council District. The Hamilton Loop project, a greenbelt connector and walking loop around the 91 Freeway, was prototyped as the final community celebration activity of the Uptown Open Space Vision Plan during the Color Block Walk. Since that time, the Hamilton Loop Vision Plan has further developed the concept for this project.
The Hamilton Loop is a greenbelt connector that will transform freeway embankments, streets, sidewalks, underpasses, and intersections in the Hamilton Neighborhood in North Long Beach, re-envisioning the freeway’s infrastructure that has long divided and isolated this community. The Hamilton Loop proposes to use segments of land along the existing freeway embankment on both the north and south sides of the 91 Freeway from Atlantic Avenue to Cherry Avenue as a greenbelt with a walking path and small park amenities including seating, shade, fitness and play equipment, dog runs, and garden space. The existing freeway embankment is property owned by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans).
The Hamilton Loop Vision Plan (Vision Plan), included as Attachment A, serves as a visionary document to guide potential future development of Hamilton Loop. The Vision Plan includes an existing conditions analysis, examination of park opportunity tradeoffs, summary of the public outreach process, and community-driven vision and implementation strategies. The Vision Plan is a plan for future open space investment along the 91 Freeway, anticipated over a long-term horizon, which will be implemented incrementally over time as productive sponsorships or pa...
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