Bailey Canyon Park is a small yet popular park on LA County land. On weekends it’s not uncommon to count 100 cars in the parking lot and overflowing onto the neighboring streets. It’s no surprise that LA County is short on parks, hosting about half the amount of public park space per citizen as other high density areas. So, why are we considering making this small park even smaller?
The answer is simple. The planned luxury home development next door wants the park land so they can accommodate more traffic to their compound. This will be the largest property development in the area’s history, turning the street the park is on into a major traffic artery. There are many solutions that won’t sacrifice the park, but local citizens never had a say. The plans to take the park land were never a part of the DEIR, and were added to the Final Environmental Impact Report after public comment was closed. Park users across Los Angeles County also had no voice. This is why I created the petition to save Bailey Canyon Park. Tell the County Supervisor that you want to preserve Bailey Canyon Park:
Sign the petition
https://www.change.org/baileycanyon
Save these Legacy Trees
The proposed road widening will change the park landscape, requiring grading and retaining walls. The grading to make a flat road will remove trees and native shrubs, and cut roots systems for legacy pine and cypress trees that line the front section of the park. The proposed easement plan will also impact an oak woodland as defined by the Los Angeles County Oak Woodlands Conservation Management Plan.
Save the Animal Habitat
Cougars, bats, hawks and more have been spotted in the park. An oasis for bird lovers, the quiet setting provides a quiet haven for many birds. The petition discusses this in further detail.
Preserve Emergency Vehicle Access
In the wilderness beyond the park, hikers encounter bears, flash floods, fires, and are sometimes injured or lost. The county road that runs along the park is necessary for saving lives. If the park land is sold, Carter Avenue would become a 2 way traffic thoroughfare, impeding firetruck and emergency vehicle access to this county road that runs from the park to the debris basin. Now that the luxury development will be built on the open space that provided helicopters with a local landing pad during emergency operations, we cannot compromise vehicle access as well. Fires are frequent in this area, and we must not impede firetruck entry.
History of the Park and the Threatened Trees
The Bailey Canyon Park land began as home to the Tongva tribe, called Gabrielino by the Spanish. The park is named for R.J. Bailey who homesteaded the land in 1875. He sold the land to Palmer T. Reed, who sold it to the Carter Family in 1883. Nathaniel C. Carter is known as the founder of the City of Sierra Madre. For many years the Bailey Canyon Trail was known as the Carter Trail. These threatened trees along Carter Ave were planted by the Carter Family. In 1965 the Carter family donated this land for the wilderness park. The section of the park we are trying to save is currently owned by LA County Flood Control. We must tell the county to follow the Carter family wishes– to preserve the land and trees they so graciously donated as a wilderness park.
Indeed, Sierra Madre was the first town in Southern California to establish its own wilderness preserve, and it designates itself “Tree City, USA” in the city’s General Plan. Their guiding principles are as follows:
Protect and be responsible stewards of the neighboring San Gabriel Mountain Foothills’ wildlife, forest, open space, watershed and all other natural resources.
Ensure development is done … without … impacting the environment.
Park Provides Children with Easy Access to Nature
Bailey Canyon Park provides an accessible and quiet natural setting for Girl Scout Troop meetings, cub scouts, and the local Nature Awareness Program teaches 200+ 3rd graders from local schools ever year.
Abide by the California Public Park Preservation Act
No city, city and county, county, public district, or agency of the state, including any division, department or agency of the state government, or public utility, shall acquire (by purchase, exchange, condemnation, or otherwise) any real property, which property is in use as a public park at the time of such acquisition, for the purpose of utilizing such property for any nonpark purpose, unless the acquiring entity pays or transfers to the legislative body of the entity operating the park sufficient compensation or land, or both, as required by the provisions of this chapter to enable the operating entity to replace the park land and the facilities thereon.
Read more: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=PRC&division=5.&title=&part=&chapter=2.5.&article=
Park Use Reports
Saturday August 19 at 7:45 am at Bailey Canyon more than 75 cars counted in the parking lot and on Grove and Fairview.
Sunday August 27: 100 cars counted in the parking lot and on Grove and Fairview.
Problems with the Proposed Sidewalk
There is a proposed sidewalk for the luxury homeowners into the park, turning it into a sort of dog park or city park for the residents. This sidewalk will be inside the park so it will not help citizens and park visitors who must navigate the development traffic when entering the park or taking evening strolls.
Water Recharge Land
The park is on alluvial fan land. This means that the ground here has the ability to supercharge our aquifers. The large luxury home development will cover much of this special water supply rejuvenation land. For the sake of our endangered water supply, we must preserve as much unpaved space in this area as possible.
LA County’s Declining Tree Canopy
“A USC study, “Urban Forestry & Urban Greening,” found that Los Angeles’ tree cover is disappearing, from 14 percent to as much as 55 percent in some single-family neighborhoods. ” Trees are needed now more than ever to mitigate the extreme heat and to help clean the air. The most effective trees are the ones we have. A “replacement” tree will take a lifetime before it can contribute to tree canopy, and that’s if it survives. The developer may say they will plant new trees, but there are no plans to water them and see that they become established. There are also no provisions that will consider the source of the new trees, and make sure they are not carrying disease or pests. In this entryway to the forest, the potential resulting disease spread would be devastating.
What Else Can I Do to Save Bailey Canyon Park?
1. Share the petition: https://www.change.org/baileycanyon
2. Donate to the petition. In most cases, we see a new signature for every dollar!
3. Hand out flyers at Bailey Canyon on weekends. Reach out via the volunteer button.
4. Help us organize a protest at the park!
5. Notify local press about our fight.
6. Contact Supervisor Barger and let her know you want to preserve the park and its trees.