City Council President Eric Garcetti, here at the Meadow Preview day in April 2007, needs to hear from you that the Meadow must be opened DO YOU KNOW?
Your City Council Member needs to hear from you regarding opening the Meadow and that it is very important that you attend the community meeting scheduled for Saturday, January 26, 2008 at 2 pm (place to be determined). Stay tuned for details!
DO YOU KNOW?
The LADWP will be taking Silver Lake Reservoir out of service in about 2015,providing the opportunity for enhanced and public usage of the Lake and its surroundings for years to come.
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In April 2007, for the first time in over 60 years, a preview public opening was held in the Meadow with over 700 people attending and enjoying the community lawn and the spectacular views.
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Possible access to the Meadow is a result of the Silver Lake Master Plan, a comprehensive effort paid for by the LADWP and developed by Mia Lehrer & Associates in 1999. This plan has resulted in the new walking/running paths around the lake, now being completed on the East side. The Meadow is the crown jewel in this plan.
In 10 years with about 20 community meetings, workshops and surveys which solicited thousands of comments about the Silver Lake Master Plan, over 80% of respondents wanted more access, with open undeveloped space, maintaining the sylvan setting and providing a safe, separate walking path with access to the Reservoir property.
The jogging path meandering through the Meadow . . .
. . . draws inspiration from the path that surrounds the Reservoir in New York's Central Park.DO YOU KNOW?
Although the Master Plan called for completely opening the Meadow, proponents have agreed to a series of compromises, in the interest of quickly gaining public access to this outstanding resource. These compromises include reduced acreage, adding an enclosing fence along the Silver Lake Blvd. path and limited access hours.
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Despite 10 years of open and transparent process, a small group of residents has tried to completely block opening of the Meadow. Ignoring overwhelming public support, the full plan was jettisoned and a "compromise" put forth by opponents was embraced by Council President Garcetti and Councilman LaBonge -- with no public notice about this sudden change before an October 13, 2007 meeting.
This plan offered merely an expanded walking/running path. The community lawn was to be replaced by dry native plantings and kept locked behind a fence for use by special arrangement, perhaps once or twice a year to select groups. Although opponents have claimed to want to “save the Meadow,” their plan would have actually destroyed the Meadow as it is!
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As a result, proponents of opening the Meadow have organized a new campaign to restore the original plan and Open the Meadow NOW!
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Since the October meeting, hundreds of people have communicated with the Council offices that they want the original plan -- a community Meadow, open and accessible.
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Now a revised plan to Open the Meadow has been prepared and will be presented at the January 26, 2008 meeting. While not the original fully opened Meadow, proponents have urged prompt acceptance of this plan and commitment to making it successful. As there are some remaining detailed questions about Meadow features and regulations, a Meadow Advisory Board is being formed to make those decisions.
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Urban wildlife of Silver Lake are very well adapted to change and to people, cars and noise. Possible displacement of Meadow wildlife has been studied by scientists for 2 different environmental documents, with both reporting there would be no significant impact. New landscaping enhancements in the plan provide opportunities to attract butterflies and give birds the kind of environment that they need for cover and food.
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Without your support, opening the Meadow may not happen. It’s essential that you communicate your support to the Council offices and attend the community meeting on January 26, 2008. Only an overwhelming show of support will make this long-awaited dream come true!
Write today to:
Council President Eric Garcetti
LA City Hall
200 N. Spring St #470
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Councilmember Tom LaBonge
LA City Hall
200 N. Spring St #480
Los Angeles, CA 90012
