REGION : Two Petition Drives Oppose Nature Center

After unsuccessfully lobbying their county supervisor, residents in San Pedro and Rancho Palos Verdes have launched two petition drives against a proposed nature center in nearby Friendship Park.

The park, which has 100 acres in Rancho Palos Verdes and 23 in San Pedro, was recently renamed Deane Dana Friendship Park for the county supervisor who oversees the area. The county plans to add a 6,600-square-foot nature center and parking lot inside the park.

One group, Citizens for Friendship Park, has submitted petitions with 830 signatures to the five county supervisors asking that the mostly undeveloped park remain unchanged.

Another group, Friends of Friendship Park, expects to wrap up its petition drive later this month, said steering committee member Edward Kennedy. The petition asks people to choose among four options for the park.

Friends of Friendship Park members say their preference is to leave the park as is because they enjoy the quiet and the open space.

The local citizens groups began their petition drives after letters and a meeting with Dana failed to convince the supervisor to change the plans for the park, which is owned by the county.

Dana’s office has said that developing the park and adding a nature center will improve access.