Mailbag: Skate park at Village Entrance solves problems

An open letter to the Laguna Beach City Council:

To not only approve a $14.4 million expenditure on a Village Entrance park against the wishes of half our community, but to add a new water-guzzler at this time of city-wide conservation? That’s not just senseless, but irresponsible.

To install a park at the same time as opting to remove the turf beneath the line of trees at the Village Entrance? To hand over almost half a million dollars to a single company to merely explore what will end up constituting a multi-million dollar commission for them?

And to do so at the same time as an ideal Village Entrance project — and a budgeted one — languishes, searching for a site?

I’m talking about the skate park that Laguna Beach residents seem to want, but only outside of their residential neighborhoods where it would prove disruptive, noisy and congesting.

The Village Entrance could provide the perfect site for the skate park. It already has an available concrete basis versus having to create one at great expense.

A skate park would make for a fun and enticing entryway into the village. It would be more ecologically responsible than a green park.

And it would cover two projects in one for a total outlay of $195,000.

Come on, elected council members, what are you thinking?

Sheran James

Laguna Beach

*

Keep a sharp eye out for fire dangers

Be a good neighbor and take a good look at your yard. Do you see dead wood or an abundance of brown leaves on your trees, bushes or the ground? Time to cut back on plants that are sick or dying.

Fire season is upon us and according to experts, it will be here with a vengeance. With water shortages, is putting out fires the best use of our water?

If your yard is OK, take a look around you. Perhaps your neighbor is not aware of dead or dying vegetation in their yard. Take the initiative and talk to them about fire safety. Or call the fire department and have them come out and help with that discussion.

Also take a look around you as you walk, bicycle or drive through town.

I have spotted many dead bushes and trees along Nyes Place and in other main thoroughfares. Many areas like Top of the World and Arch Beach Heights have limited exits. If one of these exits become a fire center or platform to fight a fire, then this could hamper leaving an area.

Talk to family members and have a place to meet if you should get separated. Ask your children’s friends and family if you can work together to make sure everyone is safe.

Ganka Brown

Laguna Beach