LOS ANGELES - San Gabriel Mountains Forever applauds the visionary leadership of Rep. Judy Chu, Sen. Barbara Boxer and the 21 other Congressional representatives who support the creation of a San Gabriel Region National Recreation Area.
Their Dec. 19 letter to the National Park Service reflects the growing and widespread network of voices - both Congressional and constituent - that recognize the immediate need to improve the recreation benefits of the San Gabriel Mountains. But there is much work to do, and this vision will eventually require Congressional legislation.
A National Park study of the San Gabriel Mountains watershed released in October determined this region to be nationally significant and worthy of protection and enhancement. This study unveiled four alternative visions, but only Alternative D calls for the creation of a National Recreation Area that would include the San Gabriel Mountains, the San Gabriel River and the Puente-Chino Hills. It would also bring in the expertise and resources of the National Park Service, while maintaining the authority and responsibilities of the existing land managers, including the U.S. Forest Service and other agencies.
A San Gabriel Region National Recreation Area will benefit a Southern California region of more than 17 million people. In many areas of the San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles County, communities lack green space and parks, and obesity and diabetes rates are soaring. Healthy outdoor recreation is critical for all families as the region becomes increasingly urban.
This week's Congressional letter which supports this concept of Alternative D was also broadly endorsed by most of the 500 people that attended five recent public meetings across Los Angeles County. The National Park Service will take public comment on their report and suggested alternatives for managing the forest until Jan. 9, 2012.
San Gabriel Mountains Forever is collecting comments supporting Alternative D to send to the Park Service at: http://sangabrielmountains.org/tell_nps_you_support_alternative_d
Most of the San Gabriel Mountains are in the Angeles National Forest - which attracts more than 3.5 million visitors annually, one of the nation's most heavily visited forests. People come here to enjoy picnicking, hiking, hunting, bicycling, horseback riding, fishing and viewing nature.
Less than an hour from much of downtown Los Angeles, the Angeles forest's aging facilities don't have enough educational information and signs, restrooms, trash containers, and safe riverbank trails.
The vision of San Gabriel Mountains Forever is to preserve and enhance the natural, historic, scenic and recreational resources of the forest.
By increasing facilities, services and staffing with a national recreation area, graffiti and trash can be reduced and green jobs could be created with a forest conservation corps. A recreation area would include a network of parks and trails along the urban river corridors - known as the Emerald Necklace - to connect to the San Gabriel Mountains. More kids and families can be encouraged to get outdoors. And a transit-to-trails program could serve communities without access to open space.
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San Gabriel Mountains Forever is a diverse partnership of residents, local business owners, faith and community leaders, health and social service organizations and conservation groups who have united to preserve this mountain range in the Angeles and San Bernardino National forests.
