WALNUT CANYON NEEDS YOUR HELP
On May 19, 2003, Friends of Walnut Canyon presented to the Board of the Santa Monica
Mountains Conservancy (SMMC) a proposal to preserve approximately 30 acres of
undeveloped hillside in Glassell Park called Walnut Canyon. On February 28, 2004, a
kickoff was held at the site with over 100 people attending, including Antonio Villaraigosa,
who at the time was the City Councilmember representing the area.
Walnut Canyon is located above and behind the single row of homes lining Division Street
between Cazador and Sunny Heights, and below Loveland Drive at the top of the hill. It is a
roughly 30 acre parcel of land and home to Black Walnut trees, red tailed hawks, owls, skunks,
possums, coyotes and many other species of wildlife. This would make an ideal open space
natural habitat reserve in our area, where open green space is rapidly disappearing as new
homes are being built.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP.... You can email the Board of the SMMC and
remind them how important it is to our community to include Walnut Canyon on their acquisition
list. The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy will purchase the properties at prevailing rates.
They don't use eminent domain. They work with property owners of undeveloped land to
encourage them to take advantage of the tax benefits of donating the land, or the SMMC will
purchase it outright.
Please contact:
Elizabeth Cheadle, Chair of the SMMC via the secretary, James Yeramian:
boardsec@smmc.ca.gov
or mail a letter to the above at LA River Center -- 570 W. Ave. 26, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90065
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (and ask him to contact the board on your behalf)
200 N. Spring St., Room 303, Los Angeles, CA 90012 - 213-978-0600
SUGGESTED LANGUAGE:
Please put Walnut Canyon in Glassell Park on the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy acquisition list. It is in a park
poor area of Los Angeles, served by public transit, and the focus of a four-year effort by members of the community. It
also has the support of the Mayor, Supervisor Gloria Molina, Council President Eric Garcetti, and Councilmembers Ed
Reyes, as well as State Senator Gil Cedillo and State Assemblymember Anthony Portantino.
