Green for Parks: Yes on 43

Griffith Park is 4,107 acres of jogging and bike paths, horse and hiking trails, golf courses, tennis courts, playgrounds and picnic areas. It is home to a major zoo, a pony ride, a fern garden, a bird sanctuary and an observatory. It is a crown jewel in a network of Los Angeles city and county parks and neighborhood oases of swimming pools, basketball courts and baseball diamonds. It is also expensive.

Millions of Californians enjoy these recreational treasures, but the wear and tear of horses and joggers takes a toll, and many local governments do not have the money to repair the deterioration or to pay for new projects.

State help is at hand. Proposition 43, a bond issue on the June 3 ballot, would provide $100 million to improve or restore local and regional parks, recreational areas, beaches and historical resources. We urge a resounding vote of Yes on Proposition 43.

Every city, county and regional park district would get a share. The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation can expect $11.8 million; the city, $8.3 million; Long Beach, $1 million; the Orange County Department of Parks and Recreation, $3.1 million; San Diego County, $3.1 million; San Diego City, $2.5 million.

Local parks are even more important this year; the debt-ridden federal government has too little money left for national parks, because of Gramm-Rudman budget cuts.

Unfortunately, the new bond money cannot bring back the staff members who were laid off after Proposition 13 forced cuts in every public budget. Nor would Proposition 43 pay for operation or maintenance costs. But the bond money would allow communities to add lights, fix old pools, rejuvenate playgrounds and prepare for a population that is growing in number and in girth.

Without the additional dollars provided by Proposition 43, park lovers could expect to encounter recreation areas marred by overgrown trails, dry water fountains, rusty slides, squeaky see-saws and much, much worse. On June 3 vote Yes for Proposition 43, the Community Parklands Act of 1986.