Editorial
The city of Newport Beach did its residents a favor last month when it
-- with the aid of many supporters -- convinced the state to allow it to
buy 15 acres of open space for use as a park.
On Oct. 12, Gov. Gray Davis signed Senate Bill 124, which will allow
the city to buy the parcel of land from the California Department of
Transportation for $1.3 million -- the same price Caltrans paid in 1966.
The land -- better known as Sunset Ridge Park -- is at West Coast Highway
and Superior Avenue and was appraised for $4.1 million in 1999.
In January, state Sen. Ross Johnson introduced the bill to transfer
the land that he said has sat idle, “growing weeds for the past 35
years.” Caltrans bought the land to build a portion of freeway on the
site, but community opposition killed the so-called Pacific Coast Freeway
in 1973.
The city will eventually build unlighted ballparks and playing fields
at the park, located about a quarter-mile from the beach. Actually zoned
residential, the property could have accommodated 160 homes, all of which
would have contributed more urban runoff to the ocean.
But getting the state to give into Johnson’s and the city’s request
took teamwork from many outside players, including Newport Beach
residents Louise Greeley, Jean Watt and Mike Johnson, Orange County
CoastKeeper Executive Director Garry Brown, State Coast Conservancy
member Paul Morabito and heiress Joan Irvine Smith.
Without everyone’s efforts, including state environmental
organizations such as the Audubon Society and Sierra Club, the property
may have hosted those 160 homes or continued to breed weeds.
We can’t think of a better use of the land in a slow-growth city such
as Newport Beach than a park where today’s and tomorrow’s children and
adults can play in the fresh, coastal air.
Rack this one up to smart local government, wonderful community
leaders and a helpful state senator.
We thank them all, and you should too.
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