STOP MIKE SCHEAFER AND THE PARK DESTROYERS FROM RUINING FAIRVIEW PARK!Here's what failed City Council candidate Scheafer wrote in his recent opinion piece in the Daily Pilot: "Why not put the skateboard park in Fairview Park?" Click here to read Scheafer's complete column.
Why not? WHY NOT!
Here's why not. Fairview Park should remain a natural park. No more concrete. No more parking lots. No more restrooms. No sports fields. No skateboard park.
Scheafer isn't alone in wanting to change our only natural park.
Just about everyone with a park need or a hobby wants to stuff it in Fairview Park.
They all seem to be saying: "Hey, there's a little piece of empty land, let's pour some concrete on it."
The CM PRESS doesn't buy it and we're going to fight against paving over Fairview Park.
We're not newbies to this struggle to keep this park as nature intended. Long time readers will remember that we were vocal opponents of Linda Dixon's plan to put the Huscroft House in Fairview Park.
Some of those who want to pave over this park are saying that they only want to do it near the model railroad on the east side of the park.
We like the model railroad. While it's not a natural part of the park, it's not an intensive use and is a unique attraction. We're sorry to see park destroyers trying to carry the day by using the presence of the model railroad as both a justification and as a precedent to put in a skateboard park, soccer fields, parking lots, restrooms, drinking fountains and more for the users of these facilities.
Just because Costa Mesa needs more park land for everything from skateboard parks to soccer fields is no reason to screw up the only natural park we have. Hands off Fairview Park, Scheafer.
The answer for our park needs is to start buying land and turning it into parks. And, this land should be on the Westside--probably in the area near 19th and Placentia.
Scheafer and others probably feel they can win this issue and pave over Fairview Park because the opposition doesn't appear very well organized.
That may change. Stay tuned.
# # #
Those are our opinions. Thanks for reading them.
