Planners to consider park paths

Andrew Glazer

COSTA MESA -- The Planning Commission is scheduled to decide tonight

whether concrete trails belong in Fairview Park.

The city’s plans for the park call for several of the dirt paths to be

paved with asphalt or concrete. But hundreds of residents living near the

park signed a petition started by Tim Cromwell, who owns a house on the

park’s northern boundary, saying the trails should remain dirt.

“All the bumps and jumps on the hills that mountain bikers use would

be history,” said Cromwell, who said he enjoys running on the dirt paths.

“They would turn them all into wide vanilla-type trails that wouldn’t be

fun to ride on. I guess the city’s just nervous the kids are going to

enjoy themselves too much.”

The city’s Fairview Park Citizen’s Advisory Committee recommended that

the city downgrade one trail used by bicycles and pedestrians to a

hiker-only trail. But the committee did not recommend requiring the city

use dirt and natural materials to create all-new paths.

Any decision the Planning Commission makes tonight about Fairview Park

is a recommendation. The City Council ultimately will decide what to do

with the park.

Cromwell said he would only support one paved trail from Placentia

Avenue to the Santa Ana River trail.

“I don’t mind one road for strollers and high-speed bikes for

transportation purposes,” he said. “But don’t eliminate all the dirt

trails that we’re enjoying so much.”

The Planning Commission meets at 6:30 p.m today at City Hall, 77 Fair

Drive.