Long Beach cuts ribbon on first two phases of Gateway Project
By Toni Miles
Phase 3 of the Gateway Project will include the construction of five beachfront pavilions and is now underway. (Photo credit: Toni Miles)
Under clear skies and with the roar of vintage motors revving in the background, the City of Long Beach celebrated a major milestone on Wednesday, October 7, with the official grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the first two phases of the City of Long Beach’s Gateway Project.
The multimillion-dollar project represents a significant investment in the city’s waterfront and its efforts to create a welcoming entrance for residents and visitors alike. City officials, community members, project supporters and partners, as well as state and national politicians, including Mississippi U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, gathered with the backdrop of Cruisin’ the Coast, to celebrate this major milestone.
The Gateway Project has taken shape over years of efforts following Hurricane Zeta’s massive damage six years ago. For quite some time, fencing, heavy equipment and construction crews were a daily site at the Long Beach Harbor, but recent months have seen the installation of public showers, completion of the tile work on the new Gateway Tower, installation of landscaping and irrigation systems and turtle-friendly lights, updated parking lots and beach access areas, as well as reconstruction of the Jim Simpson Pier at the west end of the harbor.
“I think this is what we’re going to call the front door to our city, so that we can welcome guests in our town,” said Long Beach Mayor Tim Pierce in his opening remarks at the ceremony.
The overall project aims to enhance the city’s appearance along Highway 90 and to strengthen the connection between downtown Long Beach and the beachfront. It’s a project that has been years in the making, as pointed out by Pierce, as he introduced and praised former Long Beach Mayor George Bass and prior administrations for their hard work and contributions to the years-long project.
Bass also shared remarks at the ceremony, recounting how it all came about back in 2017.
“We [said we needed] to do something to entice the people to come here from long distances, to slow the traffic down,” Bass told the crowd.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on October 7 celebrating the completion of the first two phases of the City of Long Beach’s Gateway Project. (Photo credit: Toni Miles)
That vision is now manifested, as evidenced by the distinctive tower that stood in the background at the ribbon cutting, a tower designed to resemble a lighthouse and that now serves as a focal point for the development.
During the celebration, some attendees took seats on the new swings perched at the west end of the harbor, enjoying the comments and the beachfront view.
“What a day!” said District 120 Representative Richard Bennett. “What a day for Long Beach, what a day for Harrison County.”
“The quality of life we have here – what a great example of what can happen when we all work together,” said Mississippi’s U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith. “I can’t wait for the great things to come.”
Some attendees at the ceremony sat on the newly-installed swings, enjoying the comments and the waterfront view. (Photo credit: Toni Miles)
Phase 3 of the project will include additional amenities such as trash cans, benches, bike racks and other improvements, as well as the construction of pavilions at other areas along the city’s beachfront.
“We have five different cutouts along the beachfront,” Pierce said. “We’re going to come in with five pavilions that will go along these areas, along with the furnishings and things like that to really make it a place, a destination, where you can come down and enjoy sunsets and sunrises.”
“We’re moving forward with the harbor,” Pierce continued. “We’ve got all the grants and funding in place to finish the harbor, so we’re moving forward with it. I am hoping around mid-next year, we’re going to have that harbor open; and possibly between now and then, we’ll have a pier or two open to start getting some more boats back into our harbor.”
Long Beach Mayor Tim Pierce says an official ceremony celebrating the reopening and reconstruction of the Jim Simpson Pier on the west side of the harbor will be held in the near future. (Photo credit: Toni Miles)
The project has taken on added significance as Long Beach continues working to recover from the destruction caused by 2020’s Hurricane Zeta. Efforts to rebuild morphed with goals of improving beach and downtown access and connectivity while creating and enhancing an attractive public space, all part of the City of Long Beach’s continued moves to strengthen its appeal as a destination for families, tourists and community events.
Pierce also gave an update on the Jim Simpson Pier.
“People are loving that pier, and the fishing reports are great,” said Pierce. “We’re not cutting the ribbon on this beautiful pier today that Harrison County built for the citizens of Long Beach,” Pierce said. “We’re going to save that for another day.”
