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#  Atwater Site for Crystal Springs Ball Fields is a Clear Win-Win Choice

November 18 2013

Written by Kristin Sabo.

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***![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Nov-2013/cw11093a.png)MAKING POINTS***-Should the construction of brand new baseball fields displace thousands of daily picnickers and permanently destroy heritage trees at [Crystal Springs?](http://www.laparks.org/dos/parks/facility/crystalSpringsPk.htm%20)

Certainly not, when there is a perfectly reasonable alternative.

That's not the case, however, if you listen to the cacophony thrown up by Councilmember Tom LaBonge and his supposedly unbiased proxies, some of whom currently dominate the board of what *used to be* the Greater Griffith Park Neighborhood Council and have their own personal pet projects pending in Griffith Park.

 No one really knows why the councilmember has set his sights on Crystal Springs. I sure don't. Why is LaBonge determined to willfully disenfranchise thousands of families of predominantly Hispanic descent who heavily rely on and utilize the Crystal Springs picnic area, and have done so for half a century?

 There is a perfectly reasonable alternative site for the proposed project that does not result in the permanent loss of heritage trees and that does not wholesale displace an entire large, historic user group at the picnic area. The alternative site on the Atwater side of the park should be chosen, rather than forcing the construction of additional ball fields at Crystal Springs for what are highly questionable reasons.

 FoGP has a pretty clear and reasonable description of why the alternative is the best choice for all interests [here.](http://www.friendsofgriffithpark.org/article-ballField.php)

 **The alternative Atwater site is a win** for both the councilmember and friends, and thousands of families that likely have little to no idea this project is in the works - or what may be decided largely without their input about Crystal Springs: a place that has been a family tradition each weekend for generations.

 If you can stomach the manufactured hysteria and questionable testimony that will no doubt be unveiled by LaBonge's propaganda machine *(lord these folks are noisy... and relentless)*, I hope you will bring your more rationale mind and come to the **EIR Presentation Meeting** - a meeting dubbed 'do or die' by LaBonge's proxies at the local paper - which takes place this Wednesday.

 [Read the whole EIR first](http://eng.lacity.org/techdocs/emg/griffith_park_baseball_field.htm%20) – especially the discussion of the alternatives. Then come to the meeting and point out that the alternate Atwater site represents a win-win proposition for both sides.

 Let's hope the councilmember who ostensibly represents all people of CD 4 will have an epiphany on this when rational minds speak up.

 **EIR Presentation Meeting** info:

***A public workshop and hearing will be held, beginning at 5:30, on Wednesday, November 20, 2013, at the Witherbee Auditorium of the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027.

 Please use the Children’s Discovery Center entrance.***

***(Kristin Sabo blogs an LA parks advocate and blogs at*** [***griffithparkwayist.blogspot.com***](http://griffithparkwayist.blogspot.com)***)***

***-cw***

**CityWatch**

**Vol 11 Issue 93**

**Pub: Nov 19, 2013**

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