November 6, 2012 – Brian Ulaszewski, executive director of the nonprofit design studio City Fabrick, and Long Beach Vice Mayor Robert Garcia hosted a grand opening October 22 of Park [d] Plaza on 4th Street at Frontenac Court between Linden and Elm avenues in the East Village Arts District. The bright yellow public plaza is the result of converting part of a parking lot into public space. The project added both parking and improved handicap access while creating more open space. Park [d] Plaza features street furniture and large stenciled numbers that represent statistics about the neighborhood and the process of developing the open space. “I’m excited about this being a model for creating special places throughout the city using limited resources,” Ulaszewski said in statement. Additional partners in the project include Garcia, the City of Long Beach, the Downtown Long Beach Associates, Building Healthy Communities – Long Beach and the Tousi Family. “This is a great example of creatively using space to improve our neighborhoods and quality of life,” Garcia said in a statement. “I’m proud to have partnered with City Fabrick on this project, and grateful to have them in the East Village.” (Photograph by the Business Journal’s Thomas McConville)