Long Beach to Rename Facilities Center After Longtime Advocate

The city will rename the Central Facilities Center at Martin Luther King Jr. Park to honor Dale Clinton's decades of community service.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The City Council in Long Beach, California has begun the process to rename the Central Facilities Center at Martin Luther King Jr. Park to the Dale Clinton Facilities Center. Clinton was a longtime community volunteer, civil rights leader, and social justice advocate whose work had a lasting impact on the city. The renaming will honor Clinton's legacy and contributions, including her advocacy for the rights of low-income families, work in human relations and civil rights, and efforts to strengthen trust between the city and its diverse communities.

Why it matters

The renaming of the facilities center reflects Long Beach's commitment to honoring trailblazers and community leaders who have made significant contributions to the city. It serves as a way to uplift Clinton's legacy and inspire future generations to follow in her footsteps of resilience, advocacy, and community building.

The details

Clinton, who was born in 1927 in Tupelo, Mississippi, became actively involved in community organizing and anti-poverty efforts after arriving in Long Beach in 1957 as a single mother. She gained national recognition in the 1960s for writing a letter to President Lyndon B. Johnson advocating for the rights of poor mothers and the continuation of critical social programs. Clinton's advocacy work in Long Beach included efforts in human relations, civil rights education, and community development, helping to address issues like welfare rights, fair housing, racial equality, youth development, and economic opportunity. She ultimately built a long career with the city, serving in community relations and human services roles for more than two decades.

  • Clinton was born in 1927 in Tupelo, Mississippi.
  • Clinton arrived in Long Beach in 1957 as a single mother.
  • In the 1960s, Clinton gained national recognition for writing a letter to President Lyndon B. Johnson.
  • Clinton worked with the city of Long Beach for more than two decades.
  • The City Council approved the renaming recommendation on February 17, 2026.

The players

Dale Clinton

A longtime community volunteer, civil rights leader, and social justice advocate whose work had a lasting impact on the city of Long Beach.

Suely Saro

The Sixth District Councilmember who brought the recommendation to rename the facilities center to the City Council.

Alan Lowenthal

A former U.S. Representative who worked with Dale Clinton to solve racial tension in the education system at Poly High School in the 1960s.

Lillian Parker

A member of the Friends of MLK Park who supported the proposed renaming.

Lyndon B. Johnson

The former U.S. President to whom Dale Clinton wrote a letter advocating for the rights of poor mothers and the continuation of critical social programs.

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What they’re saying

“The naming of the public space signals our values. It tells future generations who we choose to uplift and why. Dale Clinton's life represents resilience and advocacy, courage and community building.”

— Suely Saro, Sixth District Councilmember (presstelegram.com)

“I've known Dale for over 50 years; it was a different Long Beach. She was a fighter when it took a lot of guts to stand up to the institution, to be part of the social change that was taking place in Long Beach, to make it a great multicultural city that responded to all people. Maybe we're not perfect, but without Dale Clinton, we would never be where we are today.”

— Alan Lowenthal, Former U.S. Representative (presstelegram.com)

“Dale Clinton's vision, advocacy, and commitment to community well-being reflects the very principles of Martin Luther King Jr. Park and represents equity, service and empowerment. It is both honorable and fitting that the city formally recognizes her contributions in a space that she helped bring to life.”

— Lillian Parker, Member of the Friends of MLK Park (presstelegram.com)

What’s next

The next step will be for the Parks and Recreation Commission to conduct a study and subsequently make a recommendation to the Government Operations and Efficiency Committee to rename the center. That committee will then study and consider the recommendation, which will go back to the City Council for final approval.

The takeaway

The renaming of the facilities center at MLK Park to honor Dale Clinton's legacy demonstrates Long Beach's commitment to recognizing the contributions of community leaders and advocates who have worked tirelessly to make the city more equitable, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of all its residents.