The
nonprofit Huntington Beach Playhouse has
provided entertainment, theater arts
training and scholarships to local theater
students for over 35 years. Plays are
performed in Central Library Theater, a
modern 319-seat facility featuring air
conditioning, assisted listening devices,
wheelchair accessibility and free parking.
In 1962-63, a Huntington
Beach Citizen's Advisory Committee was
organized to assist the Mayor with the
multitude of problems arising from the
population growth of Huntington Beach, which
was then known as the "fastest growing city
in Orange County". A cultural committee was
organized. Two of the initial members were
Helen Susman and Bobby Murphy. Little
Theater was discussed vaguely until Helen
Susman extended an open invitation on
February 28, 1963 in her home, to all
persons interested in forming a community
theater group. Nine people showed up and the
Huntington Beach Playhouse received its
name, its officers, its projects, and its
future. The Huntington Beach Playhouse was
born with the first General Membership
Meeting held on March 11, 1963 at which time
the group grew to 24 members.
Huntington Central Park in Huntington Beach, California - Huntington Central Park is
a 356-acre park located in the heart of Huntington Beach.
Established in 1968, the citizens of Huntington Beach approved a
$6 million park bond which helped finance Central Park. Extending across Golden West Street between Slater Avenue and
Ellis Street it includes Central Park West and Central Park
East. An architectural centerpiece,
Central Library and Cultural Center, was designed by the famed
father-son Neutra team. Many attractions at Central Park
include Huntington Central Park Equestrian Center, H.B. Dog
Park, H.B. Disc Golf Course, Huntington Beach Playhouse,
Alice's Breakfast in the Park, Park Bench Cafe, Lake
Huntington, Central Park Amphitheater, Adventure Playground,
Par Course, Shipley Nature Center, playgrounds, picnic
tables, BBQ grills and special events throughout the year.
Each year Central Park hosts Civil War Re-enactment,
Concours d'Elegance, Shakespeare in the Park, athletic
events, contests, BB Jazz Concert, and Huntington Beach
Concert Band Summer Concerts.
Central Park West features Lake Huntington, Huntington
Central Park Equestrian Center, Huntington Beach Disc Golf
Course, Alice's Breakfast in the Park, H.B. Dog Park,
Shipley Nature Center (open on the third Sunday of each
month), covered picnic shelter rental, barbecue grills,
playgrounds, dirt and cement trails for walking, bicycling
and jogging, nature and bird watching and more. Central Park
West parking lots located on Golden West Street, Inlet
Drive and Central Park Drive provide free parking.
Central Park East includes Central Library and Cultural
Center, Huntington Beach Playhouse, Adventure Playground, HB
Sports Complex, a new addition to the park with baseball and
soccer fields, Park Bench Cafe, walking and jogging trails,
exercise par course, picnic tables and grills, an
amphitheater set in a shady eucalyptus grove and a
bandstand. Free and paid public parking is available in lots
located on Golden West and Gothard Streets and Slater and
Talbert Avenues.
Meeting Facilities and Rental Facilities for birthdays,
anniversaries, company picnics and corporate team building
include Central Library and Cultural Center, Central Park
Amphitheater, Sports Center, Central Park Equestrian Center
and a covered outdoor facility in Central Park West which
seats 200 people, provides barbecue grills, electricity and
sinks. For rental, call 714-536-5281.So numerous and interesting are the activities
within the park that these pages were created and photos taken to
show you all the great things one can see when visiting Central
Park.
