TO SAVE ELYSIAN PARK

1672 Morton Ave., L.A. 90026 MA 5-8427

NEWSI.ETTER No. 16
May, 1967
ARBORETJM DECLARED CULTURAL MONUMENT
AN IMPORTANT STEP to preserve Elysian Park was taken April 26
when the Cultural Heritage Board designated the Chavez Ravine Arbor-
etum as Cultural Heritage Monum.ont No. 48 that shall not be "demol-
ished, substantially altered or removed by the City of Los Angeles."
Mentioned as part of the Arboretum are the twin colonnade of Indian
date palms that border Stadium .,,vay, rubber trees in the adjacent
picnic grove and other rare and beautiful specimens.
'TIMES' ARTIClE INACCURATE, MISlEADING
LOS ANGELES TIMES reporter Ken Reich should have checked with
the Citizens Committee before reporting in his May 4 article that it
"has lapsed into relative inactivity" and that Elysian Park lacks "a
well orgsnized neighborhood group." The Citizens Committee was or-
ganized by residents of the neighborhood. Close to half of its more
than 1,000 members live in the park area.
irHIIE CARRYING ON defensive battles, the Committee was forced to
postpone consideration of the park's neglect and the need for planned
development. Now it has turned to those tasks. It also is opposing
.the police bond issue, is assisting the Hazard Park and other groups
and has just printed the booklet, trThe Park That 'vas Preserved."
Does this sound like "inactivity?"
FOR i'i'HAT PURPOSE was Elysian Park saved, Reich asks. It was
saved for people, not for autos or developers. Reich, however, re-
ports that the Recreation and Parks Dept. intends among other "im-
provements," to "discourage scenic drives" and "provide numerous
parking areas" -- while drinking fountains run dry, wood bins lack
wood, irrigation pipes are rusted out and trees die. The Citizens
Committee did not do battle so that wooded hills, scenic canyons and
winding park roads would be replaced by asphalt parking lots and
through traffic arteries. Elysian Park could become one of the most
beautiful parks in the nation. We are doing what we can to make it
so. (Write the Times protesting Reich
1
s false and misleading state-
ments.)
. TESTIMmi!AL FOR COUNCIUQN HOLLAl\rD
. ELYSIAN PARK :will lose a friend on the City Council June 30
when Councilman John C. Holland retires. A testimonial dinner and
dance is being given for him Friday, Hay 19, at the Ambassador Hotel,
8 P.N. Reception at 7. Chairman, Councilman Thomas Shepard. Honor-
ary chairman, actor Glenn Ford. For re.servations call NO 17036.
CHAMPAGNE-AUTOGRAPH
BRING A FRIEND Sunday, May. 21, from 2-5 P.M. to' the home of
Marla and Bill Herman, 3227 Earlmar Drive, L.A. A donation will
_entitle y,ou to a copy of TI1E PARK THAT "i.AS autographed by
author Don and refreshments.
VOTE 'NO' ON POLIC;:' BOND -- Vote
11
N0
11
on Proposition "B", the
police bonds. (See Ballot.} Also vote "NO" on the library bonds.
HIGH-RISE IN SILVER LAKE? -,- A 1:30 P.M. hearing Thursday, May
11, Room 561-A City Hall, wil]. consider a cond'itional use zoning ap-
plication on 36.5 acres of Silver Lake property, for five L5-story
buildings (2,250 units.) Residents are up in arms.
BIG TUJUNGA ivASH IN D_I\NGER -- Balked for 38 years by the City of
Los Angeles and a u.s. Supre)lle Gou.Ft_ decision, gravel interests are
trying to get the state to turn over Big Tujunga \fash for private ex-
ploitation. Sen. Robert Lagomarisino, chairman, Senate Natural
Resources Committee, opposing Senate Bill 1402 and Concurrent Resolu-
tion No. 34 (hearing May 15); and Sen. Clark L. Bradley, chairman,
Senate Local Government Co)llmittee, opposing Senate Bill 1401 (hear-
ing May 17.) Address -- state. Capitol, sacramento.
FINANCIAL.RZPORT for 1966
On Hand, 1, 1966
Donations ..... 1,518.97
Booklet................. 102.08
Memberships.............
Special Affairs . 1,407 <05
Miscellaneous........... 92.39

Legal :;:;xpense
Posta:e............... 768.48
Pr>intina,Stationery... 806.01
Other .Zxpense......... 434.25
On Hand, Dec. 31, '66.