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July 23, 2007

Defense of Place summer update

Defense of Place is working on several different fronts to protect parks and open space from damage, development, and loss. Here is an overview of some of our work for the summer:

In the San Francisco Bay Area, Defense of Place had earlier worked to assure that an environmental education preserve would continue to provide generations of school children with an introduction to the outside world, ecology, and biology in a living classroom. The Wagner Ranch Nature Area has been a mainstay of environmental education in the Eastern part of the San Francisco Bay Area for thirty years. Defense of Place worked with local activists to stop earlier attempts to build a maintenance yard on the Nature Area through editorials, direct lobbying, and community organizing. Now, after it appeared that the Nature Area was safe the discussions have re-emerged to once again build on the Nature Area. Defense of Place has begun working to stop this plan from re-emerging and has made it clear that it will vigorously oppose any attempts to re-propose building in the Nature Area.

In Half Moon Bay, California, Defense of Place recently worked with local residents and environmental organizations to oppose the sale of land recently purchased for a new park. The City of Half Moon Bay received a no interest loan from a local land trust to buy land for a park-land that otherwise would have been developed. Now that the first interest payments for the park are due, City Officials are attempting to sell the park in order to make a quick buck rather than continue the process of building out the parkland. Defense of Place opposed the sale to the local city council and reminded them of their legal obligation to heed community opposition to the sale of the parkland or hold a public referendum on the sale.

Lake Tahoe's Washoe Meadows State Park was set aside to protect California's rich biological diversity and cherished landscapes for enjoyment future generations. Improving the environmental health of the Upper Truckee River will help keep Lake Tahoe blue by removing a major source of silt draining into the lake by restoring its banks in an area around a state owned golf course. Rather than allowing the golf course to shrink to a more sustainable size, the State Parks Department is proposing to re-build the course in Washoe Meadows State Park--going against a decades long tradition of not building golf courses in state parks and harming tranquil alpine meadows that are used by thousands of hikers, cyclists, bird watchers, and cross country skiers. Defense has been participating in the planning process and working with local citizens to assure that parts of Washoe Meadows State Park aren't lost to a new golf course development. Tragically, the entire community and area around Washoe Meadows State Park was severely impacted by the recent South Lake Tahoe fire. It remains to be seen what impact the fire will have on the planning for the state park, but Defense of Place will continue to work to assure state park protection in the face of the fire.

In Benton Harbor, Michigan, Defense of Place has been working with local residents to assure that Michigan's poorest city doesn't lose its most precious asset--the public's Jean Klock Park, to a private luxury golf course. Jean Klock Park encompasses rare lakefront beaches and dunes on the shores of Lake Michigan. Because of its natural beauty and rare lakefront, it became desirable for developers who want to use it as the centerpiece of a luxury housing development that will be completely out of reach for Benton Harbor's residents. The park was given to the city with the promise that it be kept for the public in perpetuity. Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars have funded significant park improvements with the restriction that the entire park be protected. Defense of Place has been adamant that the LWCF requirements apply to the park and has vigorously opposed the attempts to replace parts of Jean Klock Park with contaminated vacant lots. Defense of Place has recently requested that the entire project be evaluated with a formal Environmental Impact Statement for the entire project. Defense of Place published an opinion piece in Benton's Harbors main paper and continues to work with local residents on media strategy and political organizing.

Posted by dop_editor at July 23, 2007 03:32 PM

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