Long Beach city officials and residents on Saturday celebrated the completion of a renovated playground and related improvements at Ramona Park in North Long Beach, city leaders said.The ribbon-cutting ceremony included remarks from Steven Scott, acting director of the Department of Parks, Recreation, Marine and Animal Care Services, and 9th District Councilmember Joni Ricks-Oddie, who credited resident input and community partnerships for shaping the project."Welcome to beautiful Ramona Park," Steven Scott said at the start of the event. "Ramona Park really offers a lot for our community."Councilmember Joni Ricks-Oddie urged families to use the park and praised the inclusive design: "Parks are meant to be played on. ... Parks are for everyone," she said, recounting a standing-room-only community meeting that informed the playground's features.Public Works bureau manager Marilyn Sarakis said the project combined multiple funding sources, including a California State Parks grant, Measure A funding from the city of Long Beach and a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). "Altogether, that's 2,700,000 that it took to make these improvements happen," Sarakis said, attributing the total to those combined sources.Specific upgrades include two age-separated play areas, inclusive swings, a sensory wave seat, a water-themed sound panel, new benches and picnic tables, ADA-accessible curb ramps and pathways, shade structures and fog misters intended to reduce heat impacts and make the space more comfortable during warm weather. City staff also described new rubberized safety surfacing and features designed for children of varying abilities.The city credited a team of staff, consultants and contractors with delivering the project: Monica de Givorian served as the project manager; architect Chuck Foley of Hersh and Associates designed the playground; contractors listed in remarks were SDJ and B Construction. Project management staff and local partners were also acknowledged at the ceremony.Sarakis said the project management bureau’s goals were to extend the facility's useful life, enhance accessibility, improve the visitor experience and reduce heat impacts through cooling features. She also noted upcoming work in Council District 9, including improvements at DeForest Park, a new restroom, Houghton Park playground work and the Hamilton Loop project that the city plans to pursue in coming years.The event concluded with organizers preparing for a ribbon cutting and inviting attendees — including children and families — to begin using the new playground. Scott closed by reminding adults to exercise caution on equipment and encouraging everyone to enjoy the park."So enjoy, and thank you for being here," he said. "This is absolutely a destination for you and your family."