EDITORIAL

Public parks.

They are a place for solitude and escape from life’s daily toils, an

oasis of greenery in a desert of concrete. A place for us to go to play

tag football, fly a kite or enjoy a picnic lunch.

And with cash-strapped cities and school districts being tempted to sell

off park land to developers for big bucks, these small slices of heaven

must be protected.

One such case is Balearic Park.

An institution within the Mesa Verde neighborhood, the park’s future

recently became clouded as Newport-Mesa school district officials

announced plans to sell it as a means to raise funds for the maintenance

of school facilities.

And while Newport-Mesa schools need the cash, residents rightly became

alarmed when they envisioned their park evaporating and becoming yet

another housing development.

In addition to being a community landmark, Balearic’s 9.25-acre site

comes complete with soccer fields and a new playground. For the last 22

years, Costa Mesa city officials have run a child-care and community

center at Balearic.

Furthermore, residents argue the loss of the park would certainly lessen

the value of their homes.

So who’s got the answer?

Costa Mesa city officials do.

By virtue of state law, school districts cannot sell property without

first offering it to the city in which the parcel lies.

And it appears city officials are more than interested in buying the park

and preserving it for Mesa Verde.

Mayor Gary Monahan has called for the issue to be discussed at a City

Council meeting Tuesday. And there’s every indication that no matter the

price tag -- which no one seems to know at this point -- the city will

buy the park.

With a $1.5-million budget surplus to play with, it appears funds can be

found for this worthy cause.

And just like the city’s recent and commendable action to preserve

baseball fields at TeWinkle Park, this is a decision that would be worth,

well, throwing a picnic at Balearic Park.