By Lookout Staff

January 27, 2016 -- Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier is starting a months-long celebration of its upcoming 20th birthday with the rollout of a new logo, some fresh painting, new lighting for the Ferris wheel and other changes, officials said Tuesday.

“This is a very special time for Pacific Park and the Santa Monica community, said Jeff Klocke, Vice President of Pacific Park. “We’re very excited. This gives us a chance to pause and celebrate.”

The amusement park turns 20 years old on May 26, and has a variety of activities planned until the landmark hits the big day. A new logo – the first since its birth -- is starting off celebrations at the park, which attracts more than eight million visitors annually.

Klocke said the logo’s design has a “contemporary look” encompassing the natural coastal beauty of the park – the West Coast’s only amusement park on a Pier.

“Pacific Park’s logo symbolizes the only park on a pier that faces a sunset — and not any sunset, the iconic Southern California sunset, which echoes the shape of the pier especially when viewed from south of the pier,” he said.

“The baseline of ‘Pacific Park’ implies the wooden deck, with water underneath,” he said. “‘Santa Monica Pier’ subtly echoes the pylons beneath the deck, going into the water. Unique to the design is the beautiful double-entendre: sun over horizon – equals - wheel over pier.”

In all, the new logo is meant to reflect “the rich tradition” of the Pier and Pacific Park, while also representing what officials term a “quintessential” California beach experience. The logo will be seen in all manner of marketing efforts aimed at advertising the Park’s updated “visual identity” as well as in everything from park signs to developments.VENT, LLC in Los Angeles created Pacific Park’s new logo and brand platform, Klocke said.

Also making its debut is a new mission statement for Pacific Park.

“Our purpose is to provide an authentic California amusement experience, where guests of all ages play together in a safe and unrivaled setting,” the mission statement says.

Pacific Park is the only admission free amusement park in the greater Los Angeles region. It offers 12 amusement rides, 14 midway games, an oceanfront food plaza and beachside retail shops. It features the Pacific Wheel -- the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel -- and The West Coaster, a steel roller coaster that soars feet above the Santa Monica Bay.