Preserving Park Sites

On a recent visit I made to Los Angeles, I had the opportunity to see your editorial “Mountain Maneuvers” (March 4) regarding the disappointing decision of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to allow for a home builder’s project in the area that we hope would be part of the Santa Monica National Recreation Area.

We are all very disappointed by this action. If we cannot count on local leaders of such an important community as Los Angeles to show leadership in the area of preservation, it is impossible for us to assume that other communities around the nation will also protect their important environment.

More importantly, it a very disappointing signal to those who must make some tough decisions here in Washington about what projects and what program areas will be funded.

This is the year that we are working to pass the American Heritage Trust legislation. It is a funding program that will assure local, state and national parks a continual flow of money so that they can plan for and protect their open spaces just as we plan for and try to provide for our transportation facilities, hospital needs and other public concerns.

We are not a nation that plans. In some such areas as parks, we are running out of the basic resources which will assure us that we will have areas for future generations. We desperately need for Los Angeles to show leadership in protecting the Santa Monica Recreation Area, but also setting an example for the rest of the nation.

We hope the Board of Supervisors will reassess this action and certainly take into consideration future generations’ needs for open space.

PAUL C. PRITCHARD

President

National Parks and

Conservation Assn.

Washington, D.C.