Parkland needs good measure of stewardship

Joan Irvine Smith

In 1937, my grandfather, James Irvine, gave the city of Newport Beach

one mile of bay-front property along Coast Highway between Bay Shores

and the Arches for a public park and dockage. Although this property

was deed-restricted for park and recreation purposes, shortly after

my grandfather died in 1947, the city leased the property for a

number of different uses including the Balboa Bay Club, which was, of

course, private.

When my uncle, Myford Irvine, succeeded my grandfather as

president of the Irvine Co. in 1947, for years he would not attend

any events at the Balboa Bay Club because he was so incensed at what

the city of Newport Beach did with his father’s gift of public

parkland.

In subsequent years, the city of Newport Beach ceded away almost

all of this public parkland to private interests for commercial

development. Today, Marinapark, one of the last remaining pieces of

public parkland on Newport’s harbor-front, is also being threatened

by commercial development.

We now have a very different situation in our coastal communities.

Limited beach and harbor-front access and a scarcity of open space

has become a distressing reality. The city of Newport Beach is built

out, as are many other urban areas in desirable coastal locations.

Now, the only prime land available for development in Newport Beach

is the remaining space set aside and designated for parks, recreation

and public use like Marinapark.

Today, conserving the environment and preserving the imperiled

diversity of life on our planet are two of the most important issues

facing humankind. The need to balance economic growth with

environmental preservation has become our most pressing obligation.

To achieve a balance between nature and humankind, the environmental

community must recognize the necessity of a strong and productive

economy that will support environmental projects, and the development

community must serve its own enlightened self-interest by pursuing a

positive environmental approach.

Instead of treating the planet as if it were a business in

liquidation, we should be addressing the role we can play in the

critical search for a sustainable environment. Each generation in its

turn is the steward of the land, water and air. Our time is now.

Public parkland is one of the most valuable assets any community

can have. I urge you to take action and Vote no on Measure L to

preserve the eight priceless acres of waterfront public parkland at

Marinapark before it’s too late.

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Joan Irvine Smith is a resident of San Juan

Capistrano. This commentary contains excerpts from her new book “A

California Woman’s Story,” which is being published by The Irvine

Museum and will be available after the first of the year.