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Peanut Lake at Debs Park.<\/p>\n
Photo by Laura Matthews for The Eastsider<\/p>\n
Montecito Heights\u2014As beautiful as Ernest E. Debs Regional Park<\/a>\u00a0is, users have long called for safety improvements<\/a> and other upgrades to the 318-acre attraction on Monterey Road. Now the opportunity has arrived.<\/p>\n The city\u2019s Department of Recreation and Parks has initiated a process<\/a> to develop a fresh master plan for Debs Park, which includes the Audubon Center<\/a>, hiking trails and a turtle-filled pond. Such overhauls are supposed to happen for each L.A. park every 20 years.<\/p>\n
As the process moves forward, people in the area have ideas.<\/p>\n While\u00a0the park won solid marks for amenities in a recent community survey by the Highland Park Neighborhood Council, respondents asked for some fairly typical improvements for parks: shade, trees and restrooms,\u00a0according to council President Darren Gold.<\/p>\n
Gold also has his own list of potential improvements, mainly involving upgrading features the park already has: modernizing water fountains and picnic areas, restoring native habitats, improving access, and clarifying distinctions between hiking trails, nature walks, and multi-use trails.<\/p>\n Roy Payan of the Arroyo Secco Neighborhood Council also has a list of work he\u2019d like to see done, starting with new stairs on the east side of the park, vandal-proof bathrooms, solar-powered lights, and shored-up trails.<\/p>\n Payan added that brush needs to be cleared from behind the Audubon Center to prevent adding fuel to a potential fire. Although the idea of letting goats eat the plants has been floated, Payan objects, saying the animals eat vegetation down to the roots, removing soil support.<\/p>\n “This was the worst suggestion I\u2019ve ever heard,” he said.<\/p>\n Plans for financing the master plan involve requesting a grant of $1.5 million from County Measure A funds, which were set up in 2016 for capital improvement projects.<\/p>\n Support Eastside Community News \u2014 Now Tax-Deductible<\/p>\n You can now make a tax-deductible contribution to support The Eastsider\u2019s civic and accountability coverage on the Eastside.<\/p>\n Choose what works for you: <\/p>\n \u2022 Become a monthly supporter and help us reach 500 neighbors funding daily reporting<\/p>\n \u2022 Make a single gift to our new Eastside Community News Fund<\/p>\n Strong local news keeps residents informed and leaders accountable.<\/p>\n Thank you for your consideration.<\/p>\n \u2014Jes\u00fas Sanchez, Publisher<\/p>\n
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