Thursday, October 1, 2026
Harvey Weisenberg has served the city of Long Beach, in some capacity, for almost all of his 92-year-long life. His work has ranged from volunteer to professional — as a lifeguard, police officer, educator, city councilman, city council president, community activist, and New York State assemblyman.
In his most recent act of community support, Weisenberg donated a set of self-opening doors at the Long Beach Recreation Center. The installation of a push-button door opener now allows easier access for individuals with mobility issues, mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers, or anyone carrying cumbersome equipment.
“I’ve been walking through those doors at the Rec since I was a little boy,” said City Council President Brendan Finn. “Harvey Weisenberg has now made it so much easier for everyone to access this great Long Beach resource.”
Weisenberg has regularly cited his son, Ricky, as a source of strength and inspiration. Ricky, who lived with cerebral palsy, died in 2024 after more than 60 years of motivating Weisenberg to act on behalf of people living with disabilities.
“God gave me a special child and he changed my life,” Weisenberg said of his beloved son. “And then I changed the lives of so many. There are people with disabilities, or older people, and they had to open two or three doors [at the rec center]. They had doors that you had to push open.”
The automated door device was installed and operating on Jan. 8, after a historic year of upgrades at the center. Throughout 2025, the community hub received a slew of improvements including new exercise equipment for the fitness center, a complete paint job on the pickleball court, a snack bar renovation, restorations to the pro shop, and a new Zamboni for the ice arena. In 2026, the center expects to install new turf on the outdoor field.
“Long Beach is defined by community and this is a perfect example of that,” explained City Councilman Michael Reinhart. “On behalf of the council, we want to extend heartfelt thanks to Harvey Weisenberg for opening his heart to our Long Beach neighbors with this donation. Making a difference in our community is what it’s all about.”
