Get to know the neighbors

In an effort to strengthen community ties and bring people from different neighborhoods together, the Halecrest & Hall of Fame Community Assn. is hosting a potluck picnic.

The first Costa Mesa Community Picnic at Halecrest Park, 3107 Killybrooke Lane, is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. June 12. It is a chance for residents to gather, meet one another and address all the happenings in their communities, the good and the bad, said Mike Brumbaugh, president of the community association.

“What affects one neighborhood in Costa Mesa, affects us all,” said Brumbaugh, who is also a city parks and recreation commissioner.

The idea of a picnic at Halecrest Park began when Brumbaugh invited neighborhood leaders to a community summit, which became the basis for something bigger.

“After the first meeting, we decided to hold them periodically, then we decided, why not get families together?” he said.

With natural disasters like earthquakes shaking the globe, it’s more crucial than ever for communities and neighbors to know each other and help one another in times of need, Brumbaugh said.

The plan is to make the picnic an annual event where residents and community leaders meet in a different neighborhood.

And the goal is to change the perceptions that some people might have of other neighborhoods, Brumbaugh said.

Because this is the first year and because the Halecrest community is hoping for a large turnout, community members are asked to bring their favorite dish to share.