This news update is brought to you by the City of Long Beach. To find out more about City programs, projects, initiatives and services, please visit longbeach.gov. To find events near you, please visit the City calendar at www.longbeach.gov/events. And follow us on social media @longbeachcity.
Free Preschool Coming to West Long Beach
By Staff Writer
Published on Fri, Mar 20, 2026
A new space for learning, play and opportunity is on the way to West Long Beach.
The City of Long Beach has begun renovations on the West Facilities Center at 2125 Santa Fe Ave., next to Admiral Kidd Park, transforming the site into a no-cost preschool designed to expand early childhood education opportunities for local families. The new preschool is expected to open in September 2026.
The project is part of the City’s Westside Promise Initiative, a long-term effort to invest in neighborhoods across West Long Beach and improve opportunities for residents. Once complete, the preschool will serve 37 children ages 2 to 5, offering full- and partial-day programming in a dual-immersion English and Spanish learning environment.
The $2 million project is funded through the Long Beach Recovery Act, with additional support from Measure A and contributions from Un Mundo de Amigos. The program will be provided at no cost to families, helping reduce barriers to early education while supporting parents pursuing work, school or other opportunities.
Renovations will upgrade the building into a welcoming space designed for young learners. Improvements will include a new sprinkler system, refreshed classroom areas with modern learning materials and flexible room layouts, and a redesigned outdoor play yard featuring a new play structure.
The project addresses a significant need in West Long Beach, where licensed childcare providers currently meet less than 30% of local demand. By creating additional preschool seats, the facility will help more families access early learning opportunities close to home.
Since the Long Beach City Council approved the renovation project in September 2024, the City has completed site evaluations, permitting and design planning. Un Mundo de Amigos Preschool will oversee the program when it opens in fall 2026.
Families seeking preschool opportunities before the new facility opens can explore available programs through the Long Beach Early Learning Hub at TheHubLB.org, which connects residents to early childhood education resources across the city and will provide enrollment updates for the new preschool once available.
The project also supports the City’s Early Childhood Strategic Plan, which focuses on expanding equitable access to early learning opportunities and strengthening support for families in communities most impacted by economic and social barriers.
