Urban natives restoration event

[Paul n Shelley]

DATELINE LONG BEACH, CA,  a city which counts the sides of drainage
ditches as part of its "open space" plan....

The former right of way of the Pacific Electric "Red Cars" runs
diagonally through LB.  The question of what to do
with the land led to lots of greedy developer plans.

The *Long Beach Greenbelt* was an idea that won out over competing
commercial mini-self storage buildings 
and housing tracts -- but only in the Belmont Heights East Long Beach
area.  

In Doris Topsy-Elvord's district, the park-poorest as well as the
economically poorest part of LB, the 
developers won. That portion was lost to mini-storage sites and
so-called "pocket parks"--read, unsustainably 
small gobs of sort-of open space, crammed between more buildings.  Thus,
not only are the residents of that 
part of LB living poor, they are also being forced to live poorly, with
little in the way of parks and 
recreation.

In light of LB's unenlightened past, the victory of the Greenbelt
Committee stands as a shining example of how 
once in a while, hard work by local activists can miraculously effect
some good actions on the part of local pols, despite
themselves.

The City's concurrence was based on the representation that local groups
would take care of the new "people's park"
Greenbelt.

This Saturday and Sunday, the Greenbelt Committee is hosting THE GREAT
GREENBELT PLANT-IN at 10AM (urban
farmers rise later than rural, especially on weekends)for the planting
of 400 native California trees and
shrubs on the (future) greenbelt!

The Greenbelt will include a meandering trail amongst 2.75 acres of
oaks, chaparral shrubs, coastal sage, 
wild grasses, etc.

Local artists will provide entertainment.  Wear sturdy shoes and bring
*grub*, remember the old adage, "...if you
have, give, if you need, take...".  Some tools will be provided, or
bring your own planting tools.

More info: http://www.jimclark.org/greenbelt

Doug Korthof