The Full History of the Historic Lamppost Project
From the Bluff Park Neighborhood Association — the complete story behind three phases of “Bringing Lamppost History Back.”
How It Started
The vision of BPNA’s Bluff Park Historic Lamppost Project is to remove uncharacteristic modern street lights in the Bluff Park Historic District and install historically appropriate lampposts matching the look and pattern of the late-1920s E. 1st Street lampposts.
Although the neighborhood tried to make this happen over two decades earlier, it wasn’t until 2014 that a committee formed, inspired by historic preservation. The subcommittee met regularly for more than three years to set the Project’s strategic direction and establish historic precedent, working with the City of Long Beach Public Works Department to uncover the original 1927 sketch of the E. 1st Street poles. The committee then reached out to the original manufacturer, still in business today — that same American company, Union Metal, is proudly making the Project’s lampposts from the same original specifications.
Phase 1 — Paloma Avenue (2019)
The inaugural Phase 1, comprised of 10 newly installed lampposts with their 80 plaques along Paloma Avenue, was dedicated in a public ceremony and block party on July 27, 2019, called Lighting the 1st Path.
This milestone was achieved through collaboration, community engagement, volunteerism, patience, perseverance, and grassroots fundraising. Applause goes to the scores of donors, committee members, and residents from all over the neighborhood, our partners in the City of Long Beach, vendors, and supporters from diverse areas. Special thanks go to Long Beach’s 3rd District Councilwoman Suzie Price and Mayor Robert Garcia, who nurtured the vision and passion from the start.
The BPNA remains grateful to the inaugural phase committee members and donors who, beginning in 2014, were instrumental in doing the hard work of creating and supporting the vision.
To find the specific locations with a map showing each of the Phase 1 donors’ plaques, click here.
Phase 2 — Temple Avenue (2021)
As the BPNA reached over $130,000 of cumulative grassroots fundraising revenue since the Project’s inception, Phase 2 became a reality. The Long Beach City Council approved the Mayor’s 2020 City Budget, which allocated an additional $100,000 to augment fundraising and help secure Phase 2.
Major support of more than $15,000 came from Sally Boyne, a longtime Long Beach resident and teacher whose great-grandmother was a pioneer in women’s empowerment and owned one of the first homes ever built in the neighborhood, on E. 1st Street. Sally was inspired to reach out to BPNA by an article she read about the project in the Long Beach Heritage newsletter. She recalled taking the train to the Paloma Avenue stop when she was a young girl visiting her great-grandmother.
In September 2021, ten more decorative lampposts — made by Union Metal, the original manufacturer of the iconic E. 1st Street lampposts — were installed along Temple Avenue, while inappropriate, modern cobra-style lights were removed, transforming another main thoroughfare in the Bluff Park Historic District.
A special invitation-only, catered dedication celebration, sponsored by the Port of Long Beach, took place on September 22, 2021, at That House on Broadway, at the corner of Temple Avenue and Broadway. The event was streamed online via Facebook Live, with guest speakers including Councilwoman Suzie Price, Mayor Robert Garcia, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn’s Field Deputy Herlinda Chico, Long Beach Public Works Director Eric Lopez, Long Beach Development Services Deputy Director Christopher Koontz, Port of Long Beach Director of Communications Kerry Gerot, Gazette Newspapers Executive Editor Harry Saltzgaver, and Long Beach Heritage President Chris Hogan.
To find the specific locations with a map showing each of the Phase 2 donors’ plaques, click here.
Phase 3 — Molino Avenue (2024-2025)
The purchase order for the 10 lampposts comprising Phase 3 was placed in September 2022. The City received the lampposts in July 2023 and installed them in spring 2024, removing 7 inappropriate freeway style street lights along Molino Avenue. Beginning in April 2023, nearby residents received regular updates and hardcopy letters explaining what to expect and how to get involved.
BPNA was grateful for the partnership forged with Public Works, especially as new challenges emerged in Phase 3, including the discontinuation of the City’s LED bulb standard for historic districts, rising construction costs, navigating unique sidewalk and curb configurations and a fire hydrant on the street, and changing project management teams.
In late 2024, the neighborhood was visited by new leadership at Union Metal which bolstered its support and enthusiasm for the historic preservation project.
A fun, unique Dedication Celebration & Fundraiser, called “Puttin’ on the Ritz with Lamppost Glitz,” was held on August 17, 2024, proudly sponsored in part by the Port of Long Beach.
The new 80 donor plaques around the Phase 3 lamppost bases were unveiled at a public celebration, Beacons Honored: Plaques Unveiled, held on September 10, 2025, at 20 Molino Avenue. Councilwoman Cindy Allen and Public Works Director Eric Lopez made remarks, and then the guests and onlookers took to the street to remove the gold ribbons and read the stories conveyed along the lampposts’ bases.
Once again, the community gathered to honor the generous donors, supporters, and neighbors who helped turn three phases of the Project from vision to reality. To find the specific locations with a map showing each of the Phase 3 donors’ plaques, click here.
Long Beach Gives — Year by Year
The BPNA has been honored to participate in Long Beach Gives, the city’s annual day of giving, every year since 2021.
- 2021: Coinciding with the Phase 2 dedication, the BPNA exceeded all expectations, raising over $26,000 for the Project’s Phase 3 from more than 50 donors in its very first year of participating.
- 2022: The BPNA raised over $36,000, in conjunction with a unique, exclusive, sold-out fundraiser event. The BPNA was recognized as a leader in Long Beach Gives 2022, ranking #9 in total funds raised among 232 nonprofits citywide — a huge accomplishment for our small, all-volunteer nonprofit.
- 2023: The BPNA raised nearly $13,000, with special thanks to repeat major donors David Clark, Sam Elias, Christy Roeber, and Sally Boyne, who put up funds for a Matching Donor Challenge. Out of 244 participating nonprofits, the BPNA ranked #36 (top 15%) for total funds raised and #59 (top 24%) for number of donations.
Each year, generous donors have sponsored Matching Funds Challenges, helping the BPNA reach its yearly goals and earn recognition on the Long Beach Gives leaderboard.
Navy Trust Grant
In March 2022, the BPNA was honored to be selected as a grant recipient from the Long Beach Navy Memorial Heritage Association (the “Navy Trust”), with $40,000 of funds designated to help support the Project’s Phase 3.
The third time’s the charm, as the saying goes. BPNA’s prior grant applications were stymied by insufficient matching funds in 2015 and by the unexpected closure of Union Metal in 2017. So, try and try again we did in 2021. Having received such a prestigious grant, helped secure additional funding from donors and the City alike.
Long Beach City Support
The Long Beach City Council also approved additional funding from Measure A for the Project’s Phase 3, selecting the Project as one of only 10 specially chosen projects — one per council district — in the 2021 City Budget Mid-Year Assessment. Special thanks go to then-District 3 Councilwoman Suzie Price for calling out the Project for this $150,000 of additional funding in 2021.
The allocation of those funds fell to District 2 Councilwoman Cindy Allen, who has led the effort through City Council since 2022, after citywide redistricting moved our Bluff Park Historic District neighborhood from City Council District 3 to City Council District 2.
Working with the City of Long Beach Public Works Department, Councilwoman Allen’s office, and Union Metal Industries Corporation, BPNA saw the cost of materials and labor rise sharply between phases. Thanks to the concerted efforts of Councilwoman Allen, working with then-Mayor Robert Garcia, the rest of the City Council, and Mayor Rex Richardson, the City specially allocated $700,000 over five years, beginning in September 2022, to support the ongoing momentum of the Project. Phase 3 became part of the City’s Elevate ’28 Infrastructure Plan, click here.
This City investment doesn’t cover the full cost of completing all remaining phases across the Historic District — but it represents an important vote of confidence from City leadership in a community-driven infrastructure, beautification, and historic preservation initiative that benefits the whole city and its visitors.
Where Things Stand
Since 2014, thanks to scores of personal donors, fundraiser events, grants, sponsorships, filming donations, and conservative investment strategies, the BPNA has raised over $300,000 in grassroots funds toward the Project — separate from the additional City budget support described above. That’s a meaningful foundation, but still a fraction of what’s needed to complete the entire district, especially as labor and material costs continue to rise.
By the numbers:
- 3 phases completed
- 3 streets transformed
- 27 freeway-style lights removed
- 30 historic-style lampposts installed, made by the original 1920s manufacturer
- 240 donor plaques affixed
- Countless legacies created
With more still to come … with your help!
Want the short version? Back to the Historic Lamppost Project page.
