Commentary: There is no need to add ‘amenities’ to Fairview Park

The actual size of a continually plowed and scraped area within Fairview Park may be small, but it raises significant questions about the intentions and stewardship of city managers.

Why is a small canyon and arroyo being scraped by tractors year after year in an area of native habitat that seems to pose no risk or hindrance to the operation of the park?

The small arroyo is listed on a national wetlands map, and rare birds have been sighted in the canyon as well.

Given that this kind of habitat alteration has happened before at Fairview, how can it be that it seems to be greater risk from its own managers than any other threat?

From past experience, the strong likelihood is that this scraping is simply preparation for something that would replace simple habitat with a structure or road, built at the whim of individuals who do not understand or subscribe to the values that make Fairview Park one of a handful of local escapes from the incessant commercial activities that surround us.

This park was created for the express purpose of remaining as open space. Now its at risk by the same mentality that has overwhelmed all but the slightest hint of O.C.’s former grasslands, farmlands and open space.

As city managers have heard time after time from the majority of us who love Fairview’s wide-open vistas, why can’t they let it be?

Inconvenient access or lack of “amenities” is usually the sales pitch for this kind of thing, but more convenience ultimately lessens the experience that is the most important, one of being “out there,” at least to some small extent.

Fairview Park has already lost some of what it was to a project agenda, so how much more cement, railings, signs, lights and other stuff is needed?

KEVIN NELSON is a member of the Nature Commission.