Compromise good for Castaways Park

Compromise is a political form of art that is all too rare these

days. Instead, we witness sniping and shouting by our national

leaders that is mirrored, closer to home, by opponents on issues such

as Westside redevelopment, Greenlight and, most recently, Castaways

Park.

Late last month, the Newport Beach City Council took the unusual

path and found a compromise solution to what had become a vexing

question: How best to renovate Castaways Park.

On one side were supporters of a plan to use native plants and

create a “natural” environment, one that might not work well for

traditional park activities like picnics, Frisbee tossing and

kite-flying. On the other were people who wanted enough grassy area

to allow for plenty of picnics.

Muddying the whole debate was a decision by a previous council to

accept nearly $150,000 in grants from two environmental organizations

to develop the park with all natural plants that would be maintained

to the organizations’ standards for 20 years.

In the end, the council wisely went with a middle way: The plan

approved will include a 3/4-acre strip of sedge grass, which

maintains the “native vegetation” standard required by the grants. If

later councils decide that more grass ought to be put in, they can do

so, as long as the city returns the grant money.

It now would be wise for those who were looking for a resolution

at one extreme or the other to recognize that everyone got a little

of what they wanted. And in a public park, giving everyone something

makes sense because, after all, the park is there for everyone to

enjoy.

And, there is certain to be another issue where vast differences

can be found.