Readers Respond

AT ISSUE: In spring, Heather Manchester’s fourth and fifth grade combo

class at Newport Elementary School examined the development proposals for

the Marinapark area. The students decided what they thought was best for

the property.

I think we have enough hotels, plus a huge hotel would cause traffic.

I like the proposal for the American Legion property submitted by Richard

S. Stevens and William P. Flicker.

It would be interesting to have a nautical museum, and maybe the city

could make money from one. I also like the proposal submitted by Parks,

Beaches, and Recreation because it would be nice to have more places to

play.

Consider making more play places or a nautical museum.

ARIELLE LITTLE

Fifth grade

I think that it would be great if we could make that six-acre property

on Balboa Peninsula into the proposal submitted by Parks, Beaches, and

Recreation to make the site more public friendly.

I think if we make the site more public friendly and have a tot-lot,

tennis and basketball courts, a community center, a boat shelter, and

parking lots, people of all ages can come and have a good time.

It is also important that the Girl Scouts House stays because the Girl

Scouts would have to find a new house. Plus, think if you were a Girl

Scout, you wouldn’t want to find a new house, would you? That’s a good

reason why this proposal should be chosen. It’s also a good idea that the

American Legion stays put because it is a great place for parties and

events.

I also went to the lot and I think that this proposal would be perfect

and attract beach traffic.

AMY PENNER

Fifth grade

I am going to tell you what I think you should do with the American

Legion property. I think you should keep it as it is, and you should

leave the Girl Scout House and the American Legion as it is, too.

Lots of people use that land every day. Children from the Girl Scout

House play there every day and the people from the American Legion

probably go outside, too. I even use the tennis courts a lot! I and a lot

of other people would be very sad if you built a hotel or something. We

already have plenty of hotels and restaurants.

So please keep the property as it is. Lots of people think as I do!

JESSICA ROBSON

Fifth grade

I think the City Council should pick the proposal with the five-star,

156-room hotel with an Italian restaurant and spa.

I think they should pick that one because there are not a lot of very

nice restaurants and big hotels.

TAYLOR STEVENSON

Fourth grade

For the six-acre property, I would love for you to consider the

proposal from Beaches, Parks, and Recreation.

I have always wanted that part more public friendly. I’m not so sure

about a boutique hotel.

If we had basketball courts, playgrounds, community centers, and more,

we would get a lot more people there. In that spot, I noticed when I

visited, it was a great place for family fun, a great local hang-out, and

a tourist attraction. Plus the Girl Scout House and the American Legion

would be untouched.

This idea for that spot has a little bit of everything, which is good.

So, if you keep this in the back of your mind, that would be great.

ANDREA ADNOFF

Fourth grade

I have visited the American Legion property, and I agree with Parks,

Beaches, and Recreation, that we should make the six acres of land public

by putting in a park, tennis courts, basketball courts, a community

center, a boat shelter, and parking.

It would also be good to build something that children and adults

could both take part in. It wouldn’t bring too much traffic, which would

be good because there is so much traffic in the summer already. It would

be nice for the people living nearby to have a quiet and peaceful place

to play.

Please keep the six acres open for public use.

NIKKI LIDDICOTE

Fourth grade

I would like to tell you what I would like to happen to the property

where the American Legion Hall is.

The proposal submitted by RHC Communities to build a 100-room hotel

and improve the American Legion Hall and the Girl Scouts House will look

good and will not do anything bad to the city.

I would like the City Council to vote for this proposal so we can have

fun in this city.

ALEX ANDERSSON

Fifth grade

I think the City Council should build a five-star, 156-room,

Italian-style resort and spa, which was submitted by Sutherland Talla

Hospitality, because the Girl Scouts House looks bad.

You should build a better looking five-star resort and spa.

TOM BADUM

Fourth grade

I’m writing this letter to support the proposal by Parks, Beaches, and

Recreation to make the American Legion site more public friendly. If the

City Council chooses this proposal, then there would be a lot of new

facilities there, plus the American Legion and Girl Scout House would

remain untouched.

In conclusion to this letter, I urge the City Council to vote for

Parks, Beaches, and Recreation because the environment will be better to

all people and to animals and plants living there.

JAKE CARROLL

Fifth grade

I think the proposal submitted by Parks, Beaches, and Recreation that

includes a more public-friendly site should be the one constructed in the

area where the American Legion Hall is.

I think that the proposal will include many public facilities. Last

year, my class took a field trip to the property and I realized the Girl

Scout House and the American Legion are used several times a month and

they should stay.

I recommend that the City Council use the proposal sent in by Parks,

Beaches, and Recreation because anyone and everyone can use it.

STEPHANIE WOOD

Fifth grade

I would like the proposal submitted by Parks, Beaches, and Recreation

to make this six-acre site more public friendly. All they’re doing is

just improving things and it’s not going to be noisy or anything.

I have visited the property and also know a lot of girls who are Girl

Scouts and are very concerned about it.

This proposal is doing the right thing. More parking spaces would

reduce traffic, and the basketball courts do need improving.

Think about people who live next door. I don’t think they want big

hotels and restaurants because it’s too noise and it’s probably too

expensive.

So, I think the City Council should vote for that proposal submitted

by Parks, Beaches, and Recreation.

SAMANTHA SEVIER

Fifth grade

I have looked at every proposal for the American Legion property and

thought about each little detail like noise and traffic. But overall, I

have found one that I agree with. It is the proposal that was submitted

by Parks, Beaches, and Recreation. It would try to make our area more

public friendly. I thought you would like to know some of the choices of

residents that live in district one.

I live in Balboa and go to the American Legion Hall a lot. We’ve had

parties there and would not like the City Council to move it away. Also,

think about if you were a Girl Scout. You wouldn’t want your Girl Scout

House moved far away! Would you? I think the City Council should make

everything nice around it, like make basketball courts and tennis courts

or maybe just fix it up, so you can have a lot of people go there. You

will gain my happiness if you leave it where it stands. Last year my

class and I walked over to the lot. I saw how beautiful it was, although

it would be much prettier if there were flowers in the grass and

everything was cleaned up. It would make everything nice and pretty.

I have thought over everything and really think that the proposal I

mentioned is the best to go with. If the City Council could please just

think about it and consider my opinion, I would really appreciate it.

HAILEY MEANS

Fifth grade

Regarding the American Legion property, I would like the proposal

submitted by RHC Communities. I have visited the Girl Scout House and I

like this proposal because they are going to add units to it.

I like how the RHC Communities would put physical equipment there on

the spot. There’s also going to be more things that people would go to. I

also like this proposal because they don’t want to just tear it down,

they want to add things that are better. I also would like it if the City

Council could choose this plan because they have places for young

children, teenagers, and adults.

I would like it if the council would vote for it; that would be a very

good idea.

ELLESSE NAY

Fifth grade