Saving Our Field



We are not alone in our fight to save Open Recreational Spaces here in Huntington Beach. There are at least three other communities across the US who have also fought, and won. Specifically, Chicago Little League, Dos Pueblos Little League (Santa Barbara, CA), and the many Land Trusts that have been formed across the country.

In the case of the Chicago Little League, the monastery that sold the land stipulated that community access to the baseball fields would be guaranteed. If only the School District were as altruistic we wouldn't be having this battle. The land was purchased by The Trust for Public Land on behalf of the Chicago Park District. In their case, it was a real win-win situation in that the monastery was paid a fair market value for the property, the City Park system gained a valuable asset and the community retained their athletic fields.

Likewise, Girsh Park Foundation began searching for a solution to save their park in 1989. At the time, the Camino Real Marketplace had intended to sell the property to developers. In time, and with persuasion, Camino Real agreed to give the Foundation an opportunity to purchase it for $4 million. The Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation composed of public-spirited community members dedicated to providing our community's kids (of all ages) with more public open space and recreational facilities.

The Foundation believes that the ability of all community members to enjoy and interact in a venue conducive to healthy and cooperative activities directly impacts the quality of life in our community. It envisions Girsh Park playing an integral role in promoting tolerance, mutual understanding, health and well being in our community. Fortunately for everyone, community leaders believed in the importance in preserving this kind of public land and leveraged the Foundation to make it possible.

Perhaps it is time to consider forming our own community trust for the purposes of saving our field. I invite all those with experience creating either Land Trusts or Park Foundations or even a desire to work towards this goal to contact me as soon as possible. The clock is ticking and we have to take quick action in order to save the day.

Alan Gandall
President
SaveOurField.org
alan@saveourfield.org

References:
http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=11380&folder_id=588
http://www.ucsbdailynexus.com/news/2002/2172.html
http://www.girshpark.org/
http://www.possibility.com/LandTrust/Jump.html

Posted: Sun - February 20, 2005 at 11:32 AM          

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