San Gabriel Valley : Council Opposes Raging Waters Expansion

Plans for a bigger Raging Waters at Los Angeles County’s Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park may be on a slide to nowhere after staunch opposition from the San Dimas City Council.

The council voted Tuesday night to oppose the county’s development plan for the park, which would include an expansion of the amusement facility.

Council members voted 4 to 0 to present a motion to the county Board of Supervisors urging them to reject the master plan and its environmental report when they make a final decision about the park’s future in November.

“Since the park is in the city, we hope this vote will convince supervisors to oppose this development,” said Councilman Denis Bertone. “Our supervisor, Michael Antonovich, has told us he won’t support a plan not endorsed by the area’s communities.”

The master plan, the fourth since the battle over the park’s land began seven years ago, calls for the development of 52 more acres of park open space--48 of which would be used to expand the water park.

The Raging Waters expansion would include nine more acres of rides, extra parking and a new entrance. The plan is bitterly opposed by a Bertone-led group of local environmentalists.