The Malibu Times, on April 12, carried two articles on the front page about our state parks. The first article was in regard to Lower Topanga State Park and the lack of funds to complete plans to demolish the last remaining houses, which has now created a fire hazard and a trashing of the area by transient people. The second article was in regard to the top of Corral Canyon with its unique rock formations, which have been densely spray painted with graffiti and left trashed by nighttime parties. A shortage of funds for state park staff has left the area without supervision. The parks service best live up to their slogan on the bus, “Healthy Parks, Healthy Living.” It would better serve the community to forget the bus service at this time in order to protect, maintain and keep safe Malibu’s natural treasures.
We must all take note, because this may all come back to haunt us. There is a fine line to be considered when intruding on nature’s natural beauty and serenity and ruining it and losing it forever. How could the Santa Monica Conservancy have the audacity to set forth a proposal of camping in the Santa Monica Mountains? How can the Malibu City Council even think about giving Charmlee Park for camping or negotiate on any other areas of Malibu with the Santa Monica Conservancy which turns the supervision and maintenance of the property over to the state and national parks. Camping or no camping, they obviously cannot handle what they are already are supposed to oversee in our local parks.
All the conservancy really wants is to have their own commercial parties in Ramirez Canyon. The heck with it being a private road over private residential property with deeded easements in a beautiful peaceful canyon. Who cares if the tour buses and cars pollute the air and the streambed, which runs to the ocean at Paradise Cove. The next thing you know we could have party houses, campsites and parking structures in all of the 13 canyons in Malibu. Doing irreversible damage and trashing, just like the night revelers at the top of Corral Canyon.
Marian Hall