READERS RESPOND

* AT ISSUE: Supervisor James Silva explained the delay of the proposed

Linear Regional Park in a Community Commentary column in the Sept. 28

issue. Here are some comments from readers.

Thanks to Supervisor James Silva for shedding the light of truth on

the subject of the 2nd District regional park (“The realities of a

regional park in Huntington Beach,” Sept. 28). There has been far too

much misinformation and too many misleading comments made about this

park.

The landowner and the county are constantly blamed for the delay in

the building of Linear Park, while the truth is that the responsibility

lies with a small group of people who oppose the building of homes on the

Warner mesa.

They have been willing to sacrifice the good of the community to

satisfy their own special interests. Silva’s comments should help to

place the blame for the delay where it truly belongs. Let’s stop catering

to the desires of a few and start looking to the things that will benefit

the vast majority of the community’s residents.

Let’s support passage of the Bolsa Chica Local Coastal Plan at the

November meeting of the California Coastal Commission.

GEORGE CROSS

Huntington Beach

I read Jim Silva’s commentary and just about choked on my Corn Puffs.

He states that the citizens of this district do not have a regional park

due to “special interest” lawsuits delaying the development of the Bolsa

Chica.

Factually, the reverse is true. We do not have a regional park because

the developments approved -- by officials like Silva -- were found to be

in violation of the Coastal Act.

Moreover, if individuals exercising their constitutional rights -- and

winning -- are considered “special interests” by Silva, then I suggest

that he needs to seriously rethink his thoughts on the subject.

If he were so inclined, Silva could push through the funding necessary

to begin public improvements of those areas of the regional park already

under public ownership, but apparently he is more interested in election

year silliness.

Silva should get the facts straight.

CARRIE THOMAS

Huntington Beach

Silva concluded his article by stating, “I look forward to the start

of construction on the proposed Linear Park in Huntington Beach.” There

are thousands of us who applaud his statement.

Thousands of residents of Huntington Beach have been standing on the

sidelines echoing this thought since the agreement between the city and

Orange County was adopted nearly 20 years ago.

The original funds set aside and judiciously guarded by former

Supervisor Harriett Wieder have been languishing for decades while other

county projects have taken development precedence. Through the years,

dedicated environmental groups like the Bolsa Chica Conservancy and the

Amigos de Bolsa Chica have come to the table time and time again to

resolve the planning issues. Meanwhile, Wieder Park’s budget incurred

staff planning and redesigning expenses only to have the groups’ efforts

thwarted.

Thankfully, Supervisor Silva has continued to carry over unused

funding from the $1.4 million. In addition to Seacliff residents having

their neighborhood parks withheld, the other residents of the 2nd

District have been denied regional park recreational space. Unfortunately

even the Phase I plan, from Palm Street to Garfield Avenue, which was

agreed upon by the city and county, has been held up because the Coastal

Commission’s certification of the Bolsa Chica LCP [Local Coast Plan] has

been delayed by litigation.

Meanwhile the Bolsa Chica Conservancy has been waiting for years for

the new nature center to be built in Wieder Park. Our small, temporary

Interpretive Center is crowded with displays, educational materials and

support activities for the Department of Fish and Game.

It’s time for the issues regarding Bolsa Chica to be finally resolved

and the park implemented. We look forward to the Coastal Commission’s

determinative vote in November.

ADRIANNE MORRISON

Executive director

Bolsa Chica Conservancy

It’s about time the citizens of Huntington Beach got the real answers

on why progress has not been made on our much-anticipated regional park.

This park is one of the main public amenities included in the Bolsa Chica

Local Coastal Plan.

Yes, there will be homes built on the mesa, but the park cannot be

separated out of the plan. When the people of Huntington Beach and Orange

County hear the truth about the plan, that there will be no building on

the wetlands, that the wetlands have, in fact, been saved, and that only

168 acres of the 1,600 acres Hearthside Homes originally owned will be

built upon -- the response is overwhelmingly positive.

The Bolsa Chica Alliance and the citizens of Huntington Beach want our

regional park.

CARL LAWRENCE

Huntington Beach