READERS RESPOND -- Would Great Park make a viable alternative to an

airport?

I have lived in Orange County my entire 48 years.

I remember orange groves. Traffic jams were unheard of. Do I like the

rampant growth over the years? No. Can I stop people from moving and

building here? No. Many people want to share and enjoy what Southern

California has to offer. Yet we all have to shoulder the burdens as well.

How utterly arrogant of South County -- where much of the recent

growth exists -- to expect John Wayne Airport, LAX and others to carry

the burden of that growth. With the amount of space available at the

Marine base, the impact of an airport has been grossly exaggerated and

distorted. Unfortunately, many people believe lies.

There is a great difference between want and need. I am currently

trying to teach my 12-year-old son just that. Sure, a huge park would be

nice. But is that what the entire area needs? Not to mention the fact

that we are hardly lacking in things to do in this abundant region. We’re

actually pretty darn spoiled, if you ask me.

However, if the county infrastructure does not keep up with existing

and future growth, the quality of life for everyone will be in jeopardy.

What will best serve the future transportation and other needs, not

wants, of all of Orange County and beyond? That should be the question.

So, grow up, South County -- or move to Iowa. I, for one, am tired of

the self-centeredness.

KATHY KEHOE BAMBECK

Newport Beach

The Great Park proposal is a selfish fantasy of Irvine and its cohorts

in the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority. No one should be fooled. It will

only benefit them. They couldn’t care less about the rest of Orange

County. The idea is completely motivated by the NIMBY principle.

There was an extremely noisy airport in their midst when the vast

majority of the current residents chose to buy their homes in the

Irvine-Lake Forest-El Toro area. I used to work in that area, so I really

do know how noisy those military jets were.

Now that the base has closed, they see the opportunity to make their

situation better than it ever was before -- better than they ever dreamed

-- at the expense of the rest of Orange County.

I’m not qualified to assess the economic viability of this Great Park

idea, but I seriously doubt that it’s there.

The viability from the standpoint of usage is also a fantasy. The site

and surrounding area bear absolutely no resemblance whatsoever to Central

Park in New York. It will not function like Central Park, except for

Irvine and those other South County communities.

Those cities do not need another park. The developers of those

communities have been -- in many cases -- required to be quite generous

in incorporating some beautiful parks in their developments.

I think it’s ludicrous to think a huge international airport is needed

at El Toro, and there’s no question such a monster would be a blight on

the beautiful communities of Irvine, et al. It would be equally tragic to

blight Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Corona del Mar by expanding John

Wayne Airport to an international airport with increased flights on an

expanded 24 hours a day schedule.

From what I’ve been hearing, Ontario wants an expanded facility. For

God’s sake, let them have it.

If Orange County really needs a second airport, it seems reasonable

and modest to have El Toro accommodate perhaps commercial aviation and

air cargo on a restricted-hour basis, like John Wayne. If Orange County

does not need a second airport of any kind, the El Toro property should

just be incorporated into the fabric of the communities it is a part of,

and become housing -- perhaps low-cost housing, schools,

greenbelt-recreation, etc.

SARAH LAFARE

Newport Beach

I’m against the Orange County Central Park option. I believe we should

have an airport at El Toro.

ELEANORE TRIGHER

Costa Mesa

Our answer is no, no and no. We need an airport at that base.

MERVIN AND BETTY PORTER

Newport Beach

Yes, the park would be a viable option. We’re an economy here in

Orange County built on tourism and built on the modern industries --

computers and all the creative type industries and new technology.

Everything I’ve read tells me that, in areas where that’s prevalent,

what the people who move in are looking for is quality of life. We have a

tremendous quality of life now.

If they add the park in the central part of Orange County, I think

they could only enhance that particular attribute of Orange County. It

will really bring in the kind of people that we want -- people who are

smart and who are attracted to the new industries like computers,

electronics, biotechnology, etc.

Quality of life is what brings those people to an area, and we have

that quality right now. So if we put that new park in there, it’s going

to greatly enhance our quality of life here in Orange County. I think it

will help us tremendously, economically, in the future.

ROBERT RASMUSSEN

Costa Mesa

Most definitely, it would be a great alternative. I’ve always thought

the airport was a ridiculous idea.

JULIE VANCE

Newport Beach