Grant for Leeway Sailing Center increased by $40,000

LONG BEACH—Long Beach’s City Council approved an amendment for a grant award, July 2, for the planned purchase and replacement of equipment at Leeway Sailing Center. The center will receive an additional $40,000 in grant fund, bringing the total award to $66,100. California’s Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) awarded the grant funds to Long Beach to help the city pay for new equipment at Leeway Sailing Center.

City staff, in a report to council members, stated the competitive grant offers funding to nonprofits, colleges, universities and local agencies for on-the-water training programs, in the spirit of enhancing basic boating safety.

Long Beach’s application for the first year of grant funding yielded a $26,100 award; the application for second-year renewal was for $40,000.

“Funds awarded through the grant will contribute to the much-needed replacement of non-motorized vessels used by programs at Leeway Sailing Center … [which] is located at the southwestern shore of Alamitos Bay in Long Beach and is operated by [Parks, Recreation and Marine],” city staff stated.

“Leeway Sailing Center is separated from the open ocean by the Alamitos Peninsula, which makes an ideal environment to offer beginner and intermediate sailing programs away from unpredictable open ocean elements and within the watchful eye of certified boating and sailing safety instructors,” city staff continued.

The city’s use of vessels at Leeway Sailing Center, according to officials, helps Long Beach “continue boating and aquatic programs” and provide “affordable sailing and kayaking programs with a focus on water safety.”

Year-round programs offered at Leeway Sailing Center are:

• Beginner and intermediate Sabot and Capri sailing lessons
• Intro, beginner and intermediate bay kayaking
• Keelboat and canoeing classes
• Sailing camps
• Racing clinics.

“Many of the vessels currently used at Leeway Sailing Center were built in the 1970s and are past their useful lifespan. Safety is a concern and constant repairs can only extend the vessels’ usefulness for a short period,” city staff stated in a report to City Council members. “Budget constraints and the constant need for repairs on many of the aged vessels has made it difficult for PRM to afford replacements.”

City staff added the grant funding would help Long Beach promote environmental responsibility and sustainability.

“Unlike motorized vessels, non-motorized vessels, such as sailboats and canoes, do not create pollution. Acquisition of new non-motorized vessels will enable [Parks, Recreation and Marine] to teach more people how to use these types of vessels, which reduces exhaust fumes in the air and polluting fluids in the waterways,” city staff said.

The city of Long Beach, in a separate matter, recognized July as Parks, Recreation and Marine Month.