Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/18929
THE BEST OF LONG BEACH 58 If you've jogged, walked, biked, swum or just enjoyed the stretch of beach between the Belmont Pier and Cherry Avenue, you've obviously passed this lifeguard station. Located on the beach at the foot of Cherry Avenue, where it was moved from its original location on Linden Avenue on the Rainbow Pier. It houses and is the headquarters of the Long Beach Lifeguard Service, one of the oldest city-owned services of its kind on the West Coast. Designated a landmark by the Long Beach Historical Society in 1982, the Cherry Avenue Lifeguard Station has been remodeled several times since it was first built in 1939. Today the two-story building that sits atop the sand and pilings on the beach is the home to lifeguards, captains, and a safety sergeant and communications center. "We and the building are a city operation," said Richard "Dick" Miller, a former chief of lifeguards from 1974-84. "We have a tradition and proud heritage. The city has always wanted to maintain its lifeguards and we cover the whole marine environment." The Miller family has a long history of lifeguard service in Long Beach. Richard's father Vic Miller was a chief lifeguard from 1945-68, and his uncle Roy J. Miller was chief from 1918-58. Scott Dixon is a longtime Sergeant/Rescue Boat Operator & Swiftwater Coordinator at the lifeguard station. He said that while the building has held up to numerous storms and earthquakes over the years, budget cuts are the one thing that has recently prevented it from reaching its full potential in serving more and more beach goers. "We wear a lot of hats, but when you have less personnel around, it prevents us from rescuing people," said Dixon. "We do everything from writing tickets to rescues to weapons recovery. But we are a proud bunch and the building represents and relates to every lifeguard. It has a tradition and quality that everyone can identify with." For more information, call 562.570.1360. It can be seen all over the city and is the home of the Long Beach State 49er's men's and women's basketball and volleyball teams and numerous other events. More importantly, it replaced the small, cramped, hot and sweaty 1,900-seat Gold Mine. Opened on November 30, 1994, the Walter Pyramid is one of the more recent jewels in Long Beach. The 5,000-seat building was officially named the Walter Pyramid after former dean of the College of Business Administration, Dr. Mike Walter and his wife Arline Walter on March 5, 2005 after Walters contributed more than $2 million to the school. It was the largest gift given in the history of the school. The 18-story facility also houses a gym for students, athletes and alumni, and also has played host to various high school and college events, including the CIF Southern Section Girl's Basketball Championships, the 2001 and 2003 NCAA Men's Volleyball Championships, and the 2003 NCAA Women's Volleyball Regionals. The Walter Pyramid also played host to the NBA's Southern California Summer Pro League from 1995 to 2007. And for those with a really good memory, the Walter Pyramid was the home of the Long Beach Stingrays of the now defunct women's American Basketball League. The Stingrays won the ABL Championship in its only season in 1997-98. The team and the entire league went under just after one season. For more information, call 562.985.4949. Best Landmark Where You're Least Likely to Drown Cherry Avenue Lifeguard Station Best Landmark to See a Game — Walter Pyramid California State University, Long Beach 1250 Bellflower Blvd. FEATURE : SIGHTS OF THE CITY