A conservation center slated to be built in North Long Beach’s DeForest Park could break ground this summer.

During a community meeting hosted by the DeForest Park Neighborhood Association Thursday night, Dan Knapp, Conservation Corps of Long Beach executive director, updated residents on the environmental stewardship program and community center that was approved by the City Council in October.

The center will act as a base of operations for young conservation corps members to help lead environmental improvement projects, such as tree planting along the Los Angeles River and recycling materials for the city and the state, Knapp said. Twenty conservation corps members, who are typically school-age youth who receive job and skills training, will work from this facility, Knapp said.

The proposed center will be built at the northern portion of the park where bathrooms are currently located. It will take up 1,400 square feet of space and will include storm water capture designs. David Sall, director of operations for the conservation corps, said the design permit for the building was approved a week ago, and construction would begin in July.

“We’re getting our final ducks in a row here to start construction in the summer,” he said.

The project is funded using park preservation funds from the state, such as Prop 68, and grants from the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy.

Once construction is complete, Knapp said the conservation corps would move into the center by the end of 2021 or early 2022.