The City of Long Beach and the offices of Mayor Rex Richardson and Vice Mayor Roberto Aranga hosted Westside Fest on Sept. 13 at Admiral Kidd Park to celebrate two years of progress under the Westside Promise, a 10-year community revitalization commitment.

The Westside Promise initiative aims to coordinate city government, nonprofit partners and the Port of Long Beach to improve parks, streets, safety and local economic activity on the Westside, city speakers said. “We’re 2 years into a 10 year commitment to the Westside,” a city staff member said at the event.

City and partner investments highlighted at the festival included the newly renovated playground at Admiral Kidd Park, programming at the neighborhood community center and upgrades on Santa Fe Avenue, according to city remarks. Speakers also pointed to partnerships with the Port of Long Beach and nonprofit organizations as part of the broader effort to support residents and local businesses.

Organizers described the festival as family friendly, with local entertainment, activities and resource tables meant to connect residents to services and programs. A different city staff member noted the Westside’s proximity to the port and said the city intends to continue supporting the neighborhood through sponsorships, educational programs and scholarships.

There were no formal votes or policy decisions recorded at the event; it was presented as a community celebration and information-sharing opportunity. For more information on the Westside Promise initiative, the city listed longbeach.gov/wsp as a resource.

The event underlined the administration’s stated long-term commitment to neighborhood improvements while listing several completed or ongoing projects. City officials and staff framed the festival as part of broader outreach and place-making efforts rather than as a forum for new policy actions.