Parks and Sports Complexes

* Your editorial of Sept. 14 regarding our local recreation centers is right on target (“We Have Nothing to Fear About Parks Themselves”).

The health of a community is determined by the success of our local parks. Where else can children, young adults or senior citizens go to play and socialize without concern for the color of their skin, the amount of money in their pockets or the language they speak?

The ire of residents living near recreation centers and parks should be aimed at those who have failed in the past to report crimes in our parks (because they didn’t want to get involved), those who have been lax in enforcing the laws and taxpayers who were anxious to reduce their property taxes but refuse to take responsibility when too few dollars are available to maintain facilities we all need or use. Sadly, it is a vocal few who find the sounds of our youth as a negative in their community.

Traffic, noise and crime can be controlled, but it takes a community that is willing to put forth a little extra effort to look for a positive solution to everyday concerns.

PATTI FRIEDMAN

President, Granada Hills

Optimist Club

Granada Hills

* I do not agree with the premise of your [editorial] that residents adjacent to parks must give up their quiet and peaceful lives. If you purchase a home on an existing park or school, etc., you know full well going in what to expect. You have made the choice. If, however, someone else, i.e. a city council, makes this decision for you after the fact, you have every reason to be concerned and unhappy. A large, active sports complex such as proposed in Westlake Village (Lindero Park) will attract large, noisy crowds. That is what it is designed for. . . .

Furthermore, there is a park already located in Westlake (in Westlake Canyon Oaks). It is very much enjoyed by those around it, and the neighbors have no gripes, as this is truly a park. We do, however, have many gripes about a sports complex in “park” clothes. One is not the other. We residents of Westlake Village will aggressively continue our fight against this monstrosity called a park. At least call it what it is: a huge loud, unsafe commercial development designed to attract hordes of people, including gangs and transients to ruin our quiet homes and destroy our property values--a sports complex. It is not a park.

VALERIE FREEDMAN

Westlake Village